Nanocrystalline PbS thin film produced by alkaline chemical bath deposition: effect of inhibitor levels and temperature on the physicochemical properties

Abstract

In this study, nanocrystalline PbS film coating on a glass slide was done using the chemical bath deposition method. PbS film was deposited in an alkaline solution using Pb(NO3)2, CS(NH2)2, and the inhibitor (Na2S2O3) for 30–120 min at room temperature (25 °C) and 40 °C, and inhibitor levels were investigated in the range of 3.2 mM–12.7 mM. The physicochemical properties of the obtained thin films were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, MAPPING, atomic force microscopy, fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, water contact angle and X-ray diffraction analyses. The relationship between nanocrystallite size, distribution, pin-hole development, and synthesis conditions were examined using image processing and surface response methodology. The band gap of the produced PbS thin film was calculated using FT-IR analysis results (0.41 eV).