Synthesis and characterisation of oriented Bi₂S₃ thin films by novel ultrasonic assisted cathodic electrodeposition route

Abstract

A novel ultrasonic assisted cathodic electrodeposition route without using any surfactant, template or toxic/hazardous materials has been applied for the synthesis of Bi₂S₃ thin films on indium tin oxide (ITO) glass at room temperature. The as deposited thin films were characterised by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and photoluminescence spectrum (PL). Results show that uniform rectangular parallelepiped‐like Bi₂S₃ thin films with different kinds of orientation growth can be obtained with a solution containing Bi(NO₃)₃, Na₂S₂O₃ and Na₃C₆H₅O₇ at different concentration ratios. (240) oriented film can be obtained at the concentration ratio 1∶5∶1 and (021) oriented film can be obtained at the concentration ratio 1∶9∶1. The obtained (240) orientation growth Bi₂S₃ thin films exhibit stronger blue green photoluminescence properties under the ultraviolet light excitation at room temperature than (021) orientation growth thin films.

Keywords:

• Thin films
• Crystal structure
• Optical properties
• Semiconductors

This work was supported by the Programme for New Century Excellent Talent in the University of China (no. NECT‐06‐0893) and Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province (no. SJ08ZT05‐3). This project was also supported by the Graduate Innovation Fund of Shaanxi University of Science and Technology.