Annealing Effect on the Structure and Optical Properties of CBD-ZnS Thin Films for Windscreen Coating

Abstract

Zinc sulfide (ZnS) thin films were prepared and synthesized by the chemical bath deposition (CBD) technique on microscopic glass substrates using stoichiometric amounts of the precursor materials (ZnSO4·7H2O, NH4OH, and CS(NH2)2). Structural, morphological, compositional, and optical characterization of the films were studied. The obtained thin films were found to exhibit polycrystalline possessions. The effect of annealing temperature on the crystallographic structure and optical bandgap of ZnS thin films were both examined. The grain size and unit cell volume were both found to be increased. In addition, the strain, dislocation density, and the number of crystallites were found to be decreased with annealing temperature at 300 °C. However, the annealed sample was perceived to have more Zn content than S. The optical characterization reveals that the transmittance was around 76% of the as-deposited thin film and had been decreased to ~50% with the increasing of the annealing temperature. At the same time, the bandgap energy of the as-deposited film was 3.98 eV and was found to be decreased to 3.93 eV after annealing.

Effect of Chemical Bath Deposition Variables on the Properties of Zinc Sulfide Thin Films: A Review

“…CBD-deposited ZnS films have been reported by many researchers. In the literature (see Table 3 ), the following chemical reagents were employed to prepare ZnS: zinc acetate [ 88 , 89 ], zinc acetate dihydrate [ 11 , 75 , 90 , 91 , 92 , 93 , 94 , 95 ], zinc chloride [ 11 , 76 , 90 , 96 , 97 , 98 ], zinc nitrate [ 99 ], zinc nitrate hexahydrate [ 90 ], zinc sulfate [ 11 , 77 , 78 , 85 , 100 , 101 , 102 , 103 ], and zinc sulfate heptahydrate [ 21 , 58 , 69 , 90 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 110 ] as a source of Zn 2+ ions; sodium sulfide […”

“…The pH regulator of an alkaline solution was adjusted by adding ammonia ( ) [ 18 , 69 , 75 , 85 , 96 , 100 ] and potassium hydroxide (KOH) [ 76 ], and the acidic solution was adjusted by hydrochloric acid (HCl) [ 90 ]. The sulfur sources utilized included sodium sulfide ( [ 94 ], thioacetamide ( ) [ 88 , 90 ], and thiourea ( ) [ 11 , 21 , 58 , 69 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 85 , 89 , 92 , 93 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 100 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 110 ]. The zinc sources utilized included zinc acetate ( [ 88 , 89 ], zinc acetate d...…”

“…The sulfur sources utilized included sodium sulfide ( [ 94 ], thioacetamide ( ) [ 88 , 90 ], and thiourea ( ) [ 11 , 21 , 58 , 69 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 85 , 89 , 92 , 93 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 100 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 110 ]. The zinc sources utilized included zinc acetate ( [ 88 , 89 ], zinc acetate dihydrate [ 11 , 75 , 90 , 91 , 92 , 93 , 94 , 95 ], zinc chloride ( ) [ …”

Effect of Surface Topology on the Apparent Thermal Diffusivity of Thin Samples at LFA Measurements

“…Mohammed et al [ 5 ] investigated ZnS thin layers prepared by deposition in a chemical bath. They investigated the structural properties of films deposited and annealed at a temperature of 300 °C.…”

“…Mohammed et al [5] investigated ZnS thin layers prepared by deposition in a chemical bath. They investigated the structural properties of films deposited and annealed at a temperature of 300 • C. This research found that relatively small grains were randomly formed and the deposited film had a heterogeneous surface with some cracks.…”