Impact of Barium Doping on the Structural and Optical Properties of NiO Thin Films
Abstract
This study investigates the influence of barium (Ba) doping on the structural and optical properties of nickel oxide (NiO) thin films synthesized via spray pyrolysis . NiO films with Ba concentrations of 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% were analyzed using XRD, FT-IR, and UV–Vis spectroscopy. XRD results confirmed the formation of cubic NiO with a preferred (111) orientation. Increasing Ba content led to a reduction in peak intensities and the introduction of lattice strain, indicating the insertion of Ba2+ ions into the NiO lattice. Optical measurements showed high transparency of the films in the visible region, while the direct band gap decreased from 3.55 eV to 3.13 eV as the Ba concentration increased. These findings highlight the potential applicability of Ba-doped NiO in various optoelectronic devices.
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