Thermodynamic Analysis and Experimental Study on the Oxidation of PbX (X = S, Se) Nanostructured Layers

Heat treatment in an oxygen-containing medium is a necessary procedure in the technology of forming photodetectors and emitters based on lead chalcogenides. Lead chalcogenide layers (PbS, PbSe) were prepared via a chemical bath deposition method. Surface oxidation of lead chalcogenide layers was analyzed using X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy methods, and thermodynamic analysis of the oxidation of PbSe and PbS layers was also performed. The calculated phase diagrams from 20 °C to 500 °C showed good agreement with the experimental results. According to the thermodynamic analysis, the oxidation products depend on the initial composition of the layers and temperature of the annealing. In some cases, the formation of a separate metallic phase Pb is possible along with the formation of lead oxide PbO and other oxides. The performed thermodynamic analysis makes it possible to substantiate the two-stage annealing temperature regimes which ensure an increase in the speed of photodetectors.