Iron thiobiurets: single-source precursors for iron sulfide thin films

Area of Science:

• Inorganic Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Iron sulfide thin films are crucial for applications in catalysis, energy storage, and electronics.
• Developing efficient single-source precursors is key for controlled synthesis of these materials.
• Iron(III) thiobiuret complexes represent a novel class of precursors for iron sulfide deposition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize novel iron(III) thiobiuret complexes.
• To investigate their potential as single-source precursors for iron sulfide thin film deposition.
• To analyze the resulting iron sulfide films' phase composition and morphology.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of four iron(III) thiobiuret complexes.
• Single-crystal X-ray structure determination for selected complexes.
• Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for decomposition studies.
• Aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) for thin film fabrication.
• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphological analysis.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of four iron(III) thiobiuret complexes.
• Structural characterization of complexes 1, 2, and 4.
• TGA revealed decomposition to iron sulfide residues.
• AACVD yielded iron sulfide films (FeS, FeS2) with varying phases and morphologies.
• Film properties were dependent on precursor structure and deposition temperature.
• Complex 1 produced hexagonal troilite FeS, while complexes 2 and 3 yielded mixtures of FeS and FeS2.

Conclusions:

• Iron(III) thiobiuret complexes are effective single-source precursors for iron sulfide thin films.
• The choice of precursor and deposition temperature allows for control over the phase and morphology of the deposited films.
• This study introduces a new synthetic route for iron sulfide materials with potential for diverse technological applications.