Study of CuSbSe2 thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition from bulk source material

• Published in: Materials science in semiconductor processing Vol. 121; p. 105420
• Main Authors: Goyal, Deepak, Goyal, C.P., Ikeda, H., Gopalakrishnan, C., Malar, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2021
• Subjects: CuSbSe2; Pulsed laser deposition; Thin films; Thin films; CuSbSe2; Pulsed laser deposition
• ISSN: 1369-8001; 1873-4081
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mssp.2020.105420

In this paper, we discuss the details of growth of CuSbSe2 chalcostibite thin films via pulsed laser deposition using bulk ball milled compound. Thin film growth conditions, in particular pulsed laser energy was optimized to obtain the near stoichiometric thin films. Films were grown at room temperature as well as at 400 °C and as grown films were post annealed at 400 °C to see annealed induced effects. Material characteristics of the thin films were evaluated in detail using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy studies. Scanning electron microscopy and dynamic force microscope measurements revealed the morphology as well as smoothness of the thin films. Hall coefficient values measured positive and carrier concentration value of 1.2 × 1018 cm−3 for the films grown at 400 °C. Absorption coefficient values of the order of ~105 cm−1 in the entire visible region and band gap of ~1.2 eV observed infer favorable photovoltaic characteristics.