Abstract
We used thermal evaporation and post-deposition thermal treatment to prepare photoconductive Ag-Sb-S thin films. Firstly, to obtain the Ag 2S/Sb 2S 3/substrate samples, we sequentially evaporated both Sb 2S 3 and Ag 2S precursors. Secondly, we converted the double-layered structure in Ag-Sb-S thin films through a post-annealing treatment. Finally, considering the variation in both temperature of this treatment and amount of evaporated Ag 2S, we evaluated the formation of AgSbS 2 and Ag 3SbS 3 ternary phases in the films. As a result, we identified the coexistence of cubic and monoclinic AgSbS 2 and monoclinic and hexagonal Ag 3SbS 3 phases. In addition, the evolution from metastable to stable phases of AgSbS 2 and Ag 3SbS 3 is presented. Using Raman vibrational modes at 267 cm -1 for the monoclinic and 323 cm -1 for the hexagonal phases and X-ray diffraction results, we identified the dominant Ag 3SbS 3 crystalline structure. Furthermore, we found that, respectively, the optical band gap, electrical conductivity and photosensitivity are in the range of 1.7–1.85 eV, 1.3 × 10 -7 to 7.4 × 10 -5 (Ω-cm) -1 and 29 to 0.5. Consequently, the Ag-Sb-S thin films are suitable as the absorber layer in photovoltaic solar cells.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 106167 |
Pages (from-to) | 1 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing |
Volume | 137 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors acknowledge José Campos Alvarez for SEM images and EDXS measurements, María Luisa Ramón for her advice on XRD analysis (IER-UNAM) and Claudia Tomasini Montenegro for her assistance in writing-review and editing. MIMM thanks the postdoctoral fellowship from CONACYT-SENER Sustentabilidad Energética.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Materials Science(all)
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Mechanics of Materials
- Mechanical Engineering