Single Phase, Large Grain, p-Conductivity-type SnS Layers Produced using the Thermal Evaporation Method

Tin sulphide (SnS) has the potential to be used as a low-cost absorber material for applications in thin film photovoltaic solar cells. In this work thin films of SnS were deposited by thermal evaporation onto glass substrates and the substrate temperature varied to alter the physical and chemical properties of the layers deposited. The variations of the grain size, texture coefficient, and dislocation density with the deposition conditions are reported in detail. The SnS layers deposited were free from pinholes, slightly tin-rich, consisted of large densely packed leaf-like grains, up to 6 μm in diameter and preferential (040) orientation.