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Synthesis and characterization of In2S3: Na thin films preparedby vacuum thermal evaporation technique for photovoltaic applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 April 2008

A. Timoumi*
Affiliation:
Photovoltaic and semiconductor materials laboratory National Engineering School of Tunis, Belvedere PO Box 37, 1002 Tunis, Tunisia
H. Bouzouita
Affiliation:
Photovoltaic and semiconductor materials laboratory National Engineering School of Tunis, Belvedere PO Box 37, 1002 Tunis, Tunisia
B. Rezig
Affiliation:
Photovoltaic and semiconductor materials laboratory National Engineering School of Tunis, Belvedere PO Box 37, 1002 Tunis, Tunisia
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Abstract

In2S3 thin films containing different quantities of sodium have been synthesized by co-evaporation of sodium and In2S3 powder from separate sources using vacuum thermal evaporation method. Films were deposited on ordinary glass at 240 °C. The process of incorporation of sodium was studied as function of at.% Na. Films have been characterised by means of X-ray diffraction, SEM, EDAX and spectrophotometry. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the initial amorphous nature of deposited layers and revealed the formation of In2S3 as function of annealing layers containing sodium in nitrogen at 300 °C for 2 h. Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDAX) revealed the composition of the films as a function of the sodium incorporation. Surface Electron Microscopy showed that these films were granular and homogenous. The films have an n-type electrical conductivity and their optical direct band gap can be managed between 2.20 and 2.45 eV by controlling their sodium content. The variation of parameters for as-deposited and annealed films has been studied within $x\le 4$ at.% solid solution composition. Thin layers with homogeneous surfaces, direct band gap energy $(E_g)$ of about 2.45 eV for 4 at.% Na and 0.9 μm-thick have been achieved.

Keywords

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, 2008

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