Effect of sulfur concentration on the properties of tin disulfide thin films by nebulizer spray pyrolysis technique

Influence of sulfur concentration variation on the physical and chemical properties of nebulizer spray pyrolysis deposited SnS₂ thin films are investigated. The SnS₂ thin films were coated onto glass substrate at 325 °C by changing sulfur concentration as 0.8, 0.9 and 1.0 M. Sulfur concentration dependent micro-structural, surface morphological, optical and electrical characteristics of the films were studied using X-ray diffraction, Raman analysis, scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, UV–Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy and Hall Effect measurement, respectively. X-ray diffraction measurements demonstrated the growth of crystalline SnS₂ films of hexagonal structure with preferred orientation along (002) plane. Scanning electron microscopic study revealed needle shape and basket knitting shape morphology of deposited films. The films showed direct band gap ranging from 2.02 to 2.18 eV depending on sulfur concentration. Hall measurement revealed the conductivity and mobility ranging from 10⁻³ to 10⁻² (1/Ω-cm) and 1.4 × 10² to 3.01 × 10² (cm²/V s) respectively.