Preparation of SnS2 Thin Films by Chemical Bath Deposition

Abstract

A chemical bath deposition method has been proposed for the preparation of SnS2 thin films onto glass slides from the aqueous solutions of tin (IV) chloride pentahydrate, thioacetamide and citric acid at 35 °C. High quality SnS2 thin films were obtained by adjusting the amounts of citric acid, which was used here as a complexing agent. The as-prepared thin films were characterized by Raman spectra, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), surface profiler and UV-vis absorption spectra. Raman spectra revealed that the as-prepared films were of hexagonal phase SnS2. FESEM images and surface profiler measurements indicated that the SnS2 thin film deposited under the optimum condition was homogeneous and well adhered to the substrate, with a thickness of about 200 nm. Optical absorption measurements disclosed that the SnS2 thin film deposited under the optimum condition had a band gap of about 2.40 eV.