Preparation and Photoelectrochemistry of Semiconducting WS₂ Thin Films

Abstract

Crystalline 2H-WS2 thin films were prepared by thermal decomposition of amorphous WS3 films sputter-deposited onto a thin Ni layer. Structural, electrical, and photoelectrochemical properties were investigated. Room temperature photoconductivity and photoelectrochemical response were shown to arise from the same interband transitions as in single crystals. The photocurrent spectra measured as a function of wavelength revealed a structure due to excitonic transitions. Surface modification by adsorption of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid was shown to increase the photocurrent and to reduce the exciton recombination rate. A rectifying solid−liquid junction, having a barrier height of 0.45 V, was formed with the p-WS2 films immersed in the aqueous [Fe(CN)6]3-/4- redox electrolyte.

PLD Grown Polycrystalline Tungsten Disulphide (WS2) Films

“…Along the layers, it has excellent transport properties; some reports estimated the diffusion length to be in the range of 200 m [12,13]. Yet, its transport is anisotropic and is very small between the layers.…”

WS2 thin films: Opto-electronic characterization

“…Tungsten disulphide has potential use in low cost photovoltaic cells, solid lubricants, catalyst, etc. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. WS 2 thin film have been prepared by chemical vapor deposition, radio frequency sputtering, van der Waals rheotaxy, pulse laser deposition, electrodeposition, chemical bath deposition, etc.…”

Transport properties of fullerene‐like WS2 nanoparticles

“…The results of the measurements are analyzed in Layered MS 2 (M = W, Mo) compounds were proposed as a promising material for photovoltaic cells. Therefore much effort has been dedicated to study and improve their electrical transport properties [17]. Notwithstanding their suitable absorption spectra and their favorable transport properties in the dark, MS 2 films exhibited disappointing photovoltaic performance.…”