XRD and UV-Vis Spectroscopic Studies of Lead Tin Sulphide (PbSnS) Thin Films

Abstract

The effects of deposition cycles on the structural and optical properties of lead tin sulphide (PbSnS) thin films have been described. Successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method was used to deposit the ternary material on soda-lime substrates. In the present work, the PbSnS films were grown using lead nitrate, tin chloride dehydrate and thioacetamide solutions as sources of Pb, Sn and S, respectively. XRD measurements revealed that the deposited films were polycrystalline in nature with strong adherent to the substrates. The transmittance was found to be high in the near infrared regions of the electromagnetic radiation and, also increased with deposition cycles. The band gap energy was found to vary from 1.70 to 1.75 eV for 10 and 35 deposition cycles. The study indicates that SILAR is an excellent method in depositing good quality films for device applications. HIGHLIGHTS SILAR is an excellent technique for depositing thin films of lead tin sulphide (PbSnS) Deposition cycles influences the XRD and optical properties of PbSnS thin films PbSnS thin films are useful for solar cell fabrications The band gaps of the PbSnS varies from 1.70 to 1.75 eV with deposition cycles

Synthesis and characterization of chemical bath deposited copper doped lead sulfide thin films

“…This increase in peak intensity may result from the induced structural disorder within the deposited films as a result of copper impurities in Cu Pb S system [12]. The occurrence of well-defined and sharp peaks confirms the polycrystalline nature of the deposited films [13,14]. Polycrystalline thin films orientations are generally determined by the processing parameters.…”

“…However, as the doping concentration is increased, the average refractive indexes fall, and rise within the values of 1.57 and 2.02 (Table 2). This trend in 'n' was possibly due to the trapped photon energy within the deposited thin films [13,16].…”

Synthesis and characterization of copper zinc iron sulphide (CZFS) thin films

“…Determining the refractive index (n) of a material is a central consideration in the building-up of many optical devices like modulators, switches, filters, waveguides, detectors, solar cells, etc., owing to its close connection with the electronic polarization of the material [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Usually, n is related to the polarization (electronic) of ions and is evaluated using the following relation in Eq.…”

“…Still, the varying E g due to deposition durations makes the films beneficial for solar cell fabrication, as a result of allowing more photons to have access to the absorbing films and creating more photocurrents [4,22]. Determining the refractive index (n) of a material is a central consideration in the building-up of many optical devices like modulators, switches, filters, waveguides, detectors, solar cells, etc., owing to its close connection with the electronic polarization of the material [23,24,25]. Usually, n is related to the polarization (electronic) of ions and is evaluated using the following relation in Eq.…”