Investigations on SnS films deposited by spray pyrolysis

Thin films of SnS have been deposited on conducting glass substrates using spray pyrolysis. The spray solution consisted of tin chloride and thiourea dissolved in a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water. The substrate temper ature was varied in the range, 100-450 degreesC. The films formed at growth temperatures between 300 degreesC and 360 degreesC were polycrystalline, s ingle phase and nearly stoichiometric with a strong {1 1 1} preferential or ientation. These films were p-conductivity type with an electrical resistiv ity of 30 Omega cm and a net carrier concentration of 1.2 x 10(15) cm(-3). These layers had a direct band gap of 1.32 eV. The films deposited at tempe ratures < 300 degreesC and < 360 degreesC deviated from stoichiometry with other chemical phases present. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights re served.