Characterization of n-Type and p-Type ZnS Thin Layers Grown by an Electrochemical Method

• Published in: Journal of electronic materials Vol. 42; no. 4; pp. 692 - 700
• Main Authors: Echendu, O.K., Weerasinghe, A.R., Diso, D.G., Fauzi, F., Dharmadasa, I.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.04.2013; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Electrodeposition, electroplating; Electronics; Electronics and Microelectronics; Exact sciences and technology; Instrumentation; Materials Science; Metals; Methods of deposition of films and coatings; film growth and epitaxy; Optical and Electronic Materials; Physics; Semiconductors; Solid State Physics; Structure and morphology; thickness; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); Thin film structure and morphology; Thin films; type ZnS; Electrodeposition; semiconductors; thin films; Electrical conductivity; Electrochemical method; Photoelectrochemical cells; Glass; XRD; Coverage rate; Thin films; Zinc sulfide; Energy gap; Lamellar structure; Aqueous solutions; Tin oxide; p-type ZnS; Electrodeposited coatings; Absorption spectra; IV characteristic; Optical absorption; Scanning electron microscopy; Annealing; Zinc chloride; Fluorine additions; Tin additions; Absorbance; II-VI semiconductors; n-type ZnS
• ISSN: 0361-5235; 1543-186X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11664-012-2393-y

Electrodeposition of n -type and p -type thin-film layers of ZnS was carried out using a simple two-electrode system and aqueous solutions of ZnCl 2 and (NH 4 ) 2 S 2 O 3 with different Zn 2+ concentrations. X-ray diffraction measurements show that the ZnS layers deposited from both solutions are amorphous. Optical absorption measurements show low absorbance of the layers with energy bandgap in the range of 3.68 eV to 3.78 eV after postdeposition annealing. Photoelectrochemical cell measurements show that both n -type and p -type ZnS thin layers can be electrodeposited by simply changing the concentrations of the deposition solutions. With higher Zn 2+ concentration in the bath, n -type ZnS films were deposited, while p -type ZnS films were deposited with lower Zn 2+ concentration. The estimated resistivity of layers from both solutions using I – V measurements were 3.0 × 10 4  Ω cm and 2.0 × 10 4  Ω cm, respectively, for n -ZnS and p -ZnS. Scanning electron microscopy shows that the deposited films consist of particles with good surface coverage of the glass/fluorine-doped tin oxide substrate.