THERMAL-DECOMPOSITION OF COPPER(I) THIOCARBAMIDE CHLORIDE HEMIHYDRATE

Two combinations of simultaneous thermoanalytical techniques (TG+DTA a nd TG+EGA) were used to study the thermal decomposition of the title c ompound in order to gain a better insight into the spray pyrolytic pro cesses leading to Cu2-xS and CuInS2 thin films. After dehydration a co mplex sequence of reactions starts above 220 degrees C leading through several intermediates to the formation of CuO in air at 1000 degrees C. In an inert atmosphere Cu2S is formed which in helium above 800 deg rees C partly decomposes to Cu. XRD and FTIR were used to identify the intermediate solid phases which in air included CuCl, Cu2OSO4, Cu2OCl 2 and CuSO4. EGA-FTIR confirmed the complex reaction mechanism with NH 3, HCl, H2O, COS, CO2 and some HCN as main gaseous products under oxid ative conditions.