Synthesis of Cu2SnS3, Cu3SnS4, and Cu4SnS4 thin films by sulfurization of SnS-Cu layers at a selected temperature and /or Cu layers thickness

Three phases of the ternary Cu-Sn-S system were synthesized using thin films of chemical bath deposited tin sulfide (SnS) and thermally evaporated copper. Cu layers with different thicknesses (125-175 nm) were deposited on SnS thin films (250 nm) and the SnS: Cu stacks were sulfurized at temperatures in the range of 400-600 degrees C. Three different ternaries of Cu-Sn-S were obtained. Cu2SnS3 (CTS) thin films were formed for 125 nm copper on SnS(250 nm), sulfurized at 500 degrees C. Tetragonal crystalline structure was determined for CTS thin films by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and confirmed by two characteristic Raman peaks at 296 and 352 cm(-1). Optical properties showed a direct bandgap close to 1 eV and electrical conductivity of 1.9 (Omega cm)(-1). Increasing the Cu thickness to 175 nm and the temperature of sulfurization to 550 degrees C, the Cu3SnS4 phase (orthorhombic) was formed which was confirmed by the high intense Raman peak at 316 cm(-1). A direct bandgap of 1.75 eV and electrical conductivity in the order of 10(3) (Omega cm)(-1) was obtained for this phase. Further increase in sulfurization temperature to 600 degrees C for the stack with the same Cu thickness (175 nm), Cu4SnS4 phase (orthorhombic) was achieved exhibiting a Raman vibrational peak at 317/322 cm(-1), a direct bandgap of 1 eV, and electrical conductivity of 10 (Omega cm)(-1). The morphological analysis of these three CTS phases by scanning electron microscopy presented distinct morphologies for each phase. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of the samples was done for their elemental composition and chemical state information. This is the first report to synthesize all the three stable phases of the Cu-Sn-S system viz. Cu2SnS3, Cu3SnS4, and Cu4SnS4 by selecting the sulfurization temperature and copper layer thickness in similar SnS: Cu layer thin films.

Automated summary

By utilizing thin films of chemical bath deposited tin sulfide (SnS) and thermally evaporated copper, three phases of the ternary Cu-Sn-S system were synthesized. The different phases, Cu2SnS3, Cu3SnS4, and Cu4SnS4, were obtained by adjusting the sulfurization temperature and copper layer thickness. Each phase exhibited distinctive morphological characteristics and electrical properties, with direct bandgaps ranging from 1 to 1.75 eV and electrical conductivities varying from 1.9 to 10 (Omega cm)^(-1). This study represents the first successful synthesis of all three stable phases of the Cu-Sn-S system in thin film form.