Structural, surface and mechanical characterization of spray-deposited molybdenum disulfide thin films

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) was deposited with the precursor salt of ammonium molybdate tetrahydrate and thiourea on glass substrate at various precursor solution volume (10–50 mL) using the spray pyrolysis technique. The X-ray diffraction pattern indicates the polycrystalline nature of the film with a hexagonal structure and the occurrence of peak shift due to stacking fault. The field-emission scanning electron micrograph shows the increment in grain growth with increase in the precursor solution volume, leading to the conversion of grains to nanoflakes. Energy dispersive spectrum confirms the presence of molybdenum and sulfur. Vickers microhardness shows increament in microhardness with decrease in the precursor solution volume. The mechanical properties related to microhardness were analyzed. Raman analysis confirms the hexagonal structure of MoS2 with the presence of vibrational modes.