Preparation of ZnS by magnetron sputtering and its buffer effect on the preferential orientation growth of ITO thin film

Abstract

Two different deposition sequences were carried to investigate ZnS and indium-tin oxide (ITO) multiple thin films on quartz substrates using magnetron sputtering technique. In the deposition order of ITO on ZnS layer, ZnS acts as a buffer layer with a thickness of at least 10 nm, and ITO thin film has (222) preferential orientation growth. Besides, lattice constant expansion phenomenon was observed when the film thickness of ITO was increased, indicating tension stress increase in ITO film. The lattice constant mismatch of 5% is the reason for the preferential orientation growth between ZnS and ITO thin films. In the other deposition sequence of ZnS on ITO layer, ZnS thin film has (111) preferential orientation growth. While ITO was kept in multiple crystalline properties. Pinhole-free ZnS thin film was observed by scanning electron microscopy for this deposition sequential, promising well interface in the thin film solar cells with lower interface defects.

The controlled synthesis and DFT investigation of novel (0D)–(3D) ZnS/SiO2 heterostructures for photocatalytic applications

“…The availability of ZnS has been a prime property of its utilization; ZnS can be prepared by several methods, such as supercritical-condition-based, sol-gel, electrochemical deposition, chemical vapor deposition, and co-precipitation methods. [24][25][26] However, the template-assisted method has been found to be a facile, efficient, and economic strategy for the synthesis of nanomaterials, as it enables customization and tailoring of nanoparticles to preferred sizes, shapes, and dimensions. [27][28][29] Seeding a photocatalyst over a chemical support is a promising way to optimize its photocatalytic activity by improving the dispersion of the nanoparticles over the support.…”

Single‐phase cuprite thin films prepared by a one‐step low‐vacuum thermal oxidation technique

“…There was no other mixed oxide phase such as CuO. The oxidation temperature exerted a significant effect on the strongest peaks of Cu 2 O. Cu 2 O(111) was the strongest peak between 600 and 800°C, which was similar to the Cu 2 O thin film prepared by a sputtering technique [17, 18]. When the temperature was increased to 1000°C, the strongest peak shifted to Cu 2 O(200).…”

Influence of Bath Temperature and Deposition Time on Topographical and Optical Properties of Nanoparticles ZnS Thin Films Synthesized by a Chemical Bath Deposition Method

“…Zinc sulfide nanoparticles (ZnS-NPs) with wide bandgap (3.5-3.8 eV) have recently received intensive attention to be used in many applications [1] such as antimicrobial activity [2,3], electroluminescence devices, photonic devices [4], field emission devices [5], sensors [6,7], and applications in infrared windows [8] and lasers [9,10]. A variety of physical and chemical methods have been used to synthesize ZnS-NPs such as thermal evaporation [11], sputtering [12], spray pyrolysis [13], chemical vapor deposition [14], molecular beam epitaxy [15], pulsed laser deposition [16], microwave [17,18], wet chemistry processes [19,20], sonochemical thiourea [(NH 2 ) 2 CS] (S 2ion source) in an alkaline solution containing a zinc sulfate (ZnSO 4 ) (Zn 2+ ion source) and ammonia as a complexing agent which allow controlling Zn 2+ concentration. The deposition process is based on the slow release of Zn 2+ and S 2ions into the solution, which then condense on an ion-by-ion basis on the substrate that is properly mounted in a reaction solution.…”