Synthesis and characterization of copper zinc iron sulphide (CZFS) thin films

Joseph Onyeka Emegha; Kingsley Eghonghon Ukhurebor; Uyiosa Osagie Aigbe; John Damisa; Adeoye Victor Babalola

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10331

Synthesis and characterization of copper zinc iron sulphide (CZFS) thin films

Heliyon. 2022 Aug 18;8(8):e10331. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10331. eCollection 2022 Aug.

Authors

Joseph Onyeka Emegha¹, Kingsley Eghonghon Ukhurebor², Uyiosa Osagie Aigbe³, John Damisa⁴, Adeoye Victor Babalola⁵

Affiliations

¹ College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Novena University, Ogume, Delta State, Nigeria.
² Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Edo State University, Uzairue, Edo State, Nigeria.
³ Department of Mathematics and Physics, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa.
⁴ Department of Physics, Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria.
⁵ Nile University of Nigeria, Research and Institution Area, Jabi-Abuja, FCT, Nigeria.

Abstract

In an aqueous bath, quaternary thin films (TFs) of copper zinc iron sulphide (CZFS) were deposited on glass (soda-lime) substrates. The present study aimed to analyse the effect of deposition periods on the properties of the prepared CZFS TFs using Chemical bath deposition (CBD). The precursor and films were examined by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to check for the chemical formation present. Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) was used to determine the elemental compositions and stoichiometry of the deposited films. The optical characteristics were observed by a UV-Vis Spectrophotometer and a four-point probe (FPP) for the electrical properties. The optical characterization revealed a direct transition band-gap energy that decreased from 1.96 to 1.50 eV with an increase in deposition period. The optical constants were studied with respect to the wavelength within the range of 300-900 nm. The films exhibited high resistive properties with a conductivity that varied with an increase in deposition period. The effect of deposition periods on the optical properties of refractive index, extinction coefficient, and real and imaginary parts of dielectric constants has been reported. All these parameters were found to increase with deposition period except for the film deposited for 18 h (C3). These results confirm that the aqueous deposited CZFS films can be tuned for various optoelectronic applications.

Keywords: Bandgap; Chemical bath deposition; Deposition time; Optical; Substrates; Thin films; Transmittance.