Growth and Properties of Sputter-Deposited α-HgS Films in Hg Vapor

Abstract

α-HgS films have been grown by rf-sputtering in Hg vapor. The growth and structure of the films deposited on glass, mica, and cleaved CaF2 (111) substrates are examined by electron diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The deposition temperature varies from 100 to 150°C, while the deposition rate ranges from 45 to 75 Å/min. Films with a pronounced [0001] fiber texture are grown on all the substrates at 100°C. As the substrate temperature increases to 150°C, epitaxial growth is observed on cleaved CaF2(111) substrates, but not on glass or mica substrates. Optical transmission and photoconductivity data on annealed α-HgS films deposited on glass substrates are presented.

Hydrochemical synthesis of thin films of mercury chalcogenides (HgS and HgSe): A brief review

“…Therefore, the selection of a synthesis method becomes crucial to enable the production of films with reproducible properties. Currently, films of mercury chalcogenides, heterostructures, and solid solutions based on them have been successfully produced using a variety of methods, including vacuum deposition [ 28 ], magnetron sputtering [ 29 ], cathodic deposition [ 30 ], radiofrequency deposition [ 31 ], molecular beam epitaxy, and liquid phase epitaxy [ 32 ], electrochemical deposition [ [26] , [33] , [34] ], metalorganic compound deposition from the gas phase [ 29 , 32 , [27] , [35] , [36] ], spray pyrolysis [ 37 ], and chemical solution deposition [ [38] , [39] , [40] , [41] , [42] , [43] , [44] , [45] , [46] , [47] , [48] , [49] , [50] , [51] , [52] , [53] , [54] , [55] , [56] , [57] , [58] , [59] , [60] , [61] , [62] , [63] , [64] ].…”

“…These semiconducting compounds’ optical and electronic characteristics render them valuable in developing of novel devices for energy conversion and optoelectronics [ 16 , 24 ]. The specific properties of mercury chalcogenides, including mercury selenide (HgSe) and mercury sulfide (HgS), have been extensively explored due to their applications in IR detection, photovoltaics, optoelectronic devices, and solar energy conversion [ 20 , 22 , 25 , 31 , 34 , 35 , 40 , 45 , 61 ]. These materials exhibit unique characteristics such as high electron mobility, variation of bandgap with temperature, and potential for use in tunable lasers and thermoelectric coolers, and catalysis underscores their versatility and technological significance [ 25 , 35 , 45 , 47 , 52 , 61 ].…”