Uniform Sb₂S₃ optical coatings by chemical spray method

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Thin Film Deposition
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Antimony sulfide (Sb₂S₃) is an environmentally benign material with suitable optical properties for solar absorbers.
• Existing deposition methods struggle with scalable, controllable, in-air growth of Sb₂S₃ layers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a rapid, scalable, and economically viable method for depositing uniform Sb₂S₃ absorber layers in air.
• To investigate the influence of process parameters on Sb₂S₃ film properties.

Main Methods:

• A two-stage ultrasonic spray pyrolysis process was employed.
• Amorphous Sb₂S₃ layers were deposited on glass/ITO/TiO₂ substrates from a methanolic solution.
• Post-deposition thermal treatment in vacuum converted amorphous films to polycrystalline Sb₂S₃.

Main Results:

• Continuous, uniform Sb₂S₃ optical coatings were successfully produced.
• The process allowed for control over Sb₂S₃ structure, morphology, and optical properties (band gap ≈1.8 eV).
• Key parameters influencing film quality include deposition temperature, precursor molar ratio, and post-deposition treatment temperature.

Conclusions:

• Ultrasonic spray pyrolysis is a viable method for depositing Sb₂S₃ thin films in air.
• The developed method offers control over film characteristics for solar absorber applications.
• This approach addresses the need for scalable and cost-effective Sb₂S₃ deposition.