Preparation and properties of zinc blende and orthorhombic SnS films by chemical bath deposition

► A novel chelating reagent ammonium citrate was applied in the chemical bath deposition of SnS films and the results were presented. ► Zinc blende and orthorhombic structured SnS films can be obtained by changing the pH values and the temperature of the deposition system. ► The mechanism for the preparation of SnS films with different structures was discussed. ► The SnS films with different structures are all compact and continuous, and the resistivities of the SnS films are lower than the ever reported values.