Chemically deposited thin films of sulfides and selenides of antimony and bismuth as solar energy materials

M. T. S. Nair; Padmanabhan Karunakara Nair; Victor M. Garcia; Y. Pena; O. L. Arenas; J. C. Garcia; O. Gomez-Daza

doi:10.1117/12.290208

14 October 1997 Chemically deposited thin films of sulfides and selenides of antimony and bismuth as solar energy materials

M. T. S. Nair, Padmanabhan Karunakara Nair, Victor M. Garcia, Y. Pena, O. L. Arenas, J. C. Garcia, O. Gomez-Daza

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 3138, Optical Materials Technology for Energy Efficiency and Solar Energy Conversion XV; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.290208
Event: Optical Science, Engineering and Instrumentation '97, 1997, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Chemical bath deposition techniques for bismuth sulfide, bismuth selenide, antimony sulfide, and antimony selenide thin films of about 0.20 - 0.25 micrometer thickness are reported. All these materials may be considered as solar absorber films: strong optical absorption edges, with absorption coefficient, (alpha) , greater than 10⁴ cm^-1, are located at 1.31 eV for Bi₂Se₃, 1.33 eV for Bi₂S₃, 1.8 eV for Sb₂S₃, and 1.35 eV for Sb₂Se₃. As deposited, all the films are nearly amorphous. However, well defined crystalline peaks matching bismuthinite (JCPDS 17- 0320), paraguanajuatite (JCPDS 33-0214), and stibnite (JCPDS 6-0474) and antimony selenide (JCPDS 15-0861) for Bi₂S₃, Bi₂Se₃, Sb₂S₃ and Sb₂Se₃ respectively, are observed when the films are annealed in nitrogen at 300 degrees Celsius. This is accompanied by a substantial modification of the electrical conductivity in the films: from 10^-7 (Omega) ^-1 cm^-1 (in as prepared films) to 10 (Omega) ^-1 cm^-1 in the case of bismuth sulfide and selenide films, and enhancement of photosensitivity in the case of antimony sulfide films. The chemical deposition of a CuS/Cu_xSe film on these V_x- VI_y films and subsequent annealing at 300 degrees Celsius for 1 h at 1 torr of nitrogen leads to the formation of p-type films (conductivity of 1 - 100 (Omega) ^-1 cm^-1) of multinary composition. Among these, the formation of Cu₃BiS₃ (JCPDS 9-0488) and Cu₃SbS₄ (JCPDS 35- 0581), CuSbS₂ (JCPDS 35-0413) have been clearly detected. Solar energy applications of these films are suggested.

Citation Download Citation

M. T. S. Nair, Padmanabhan Karunakara Nair, Victor M. Garcia, Y. Pena, O. L. Arenas, J. C. Garcia, and O. Gomez-Daza "Chemically deposited thin films of sulfides and selenides of antimony and bismuth as solar energy materials", Proc. SPIE 3138, Optical Materials Technology for Energy Efficiency and Solar Energy Conversion XV, (14 October 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.290208

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available