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 temperature was varied in the range, 100-450 degreesC. The films formed at growth temperatures between 300 degreesC and 360 degreesC were polycrystalline, single phase and nearly stoichiometric with a strong {1 1 1} preferential orientation. These films were p-conductivity type with an electrical resistivity 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 temperatures < 300 degreesC and < 360 degreesC deviated from stoichiometry with other chemical phases present. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.