Precursor Molarity Dependent Morphological, Structural and Optical Properties of Hydrothermally Deposited Antimony Sulfide Thin Films
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) holds great promise as an absorber material for inorganic semiconductor photovoltaics. However, despite recent progress, the achieved efficiencies of Sb2S3 solar cells remain substantially below their theoretical potential. Optimizing the morphological, optical, and structural properties of Sb2S3 films is crucial for realizing its full potential. This research utilized hydrothermal deposition technique to deposit high-quality Sb2S3 thin films on indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass substrates with varying antimony potassium tartrate (C8H4K2O12Sb2•xH2O) and sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate (Na2S2O3•5H2O) concentrations. The films were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-visible spectroscopy to evaluate their structural, morphological, and optical properties. Characterization results revealed a strong correlation between the concentrations of the reactants and the resulting film characteristics. Notably, controlled molarities of Sb and S sources in the precursor solution yielded Sb2S3 films with suitable band gap, compact surface, and (hk1) preferred orientation, all vital for efficient photovoltaics.
DOI: 10.55546/jmm.1663026
Author: Fulya Turkoglu
Institution: İskenderun Technical University
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4411646239