Effects of triethanolamine on the morphology and phase of chemically deposited tin sulfide

Effects of triethanolamine (TEA) on tin sulfide films grown by chemical bath deposition were explored. Nanostructures were observed in the samples employing TEA in precursor solutions, and different morphologies, i.e. spherically assembled nanoflakes, continuous nanoflake films and solid nanospheres could be resulted at low, medium and high TEA concentrations respectively. The phases of the nanoflakes and solid nanospheres were characterized as orthorhombic SnS and orthorhombic Sn2S3 by SAED and HRTEM. In order to explore the growth mechanisms, models regarding different TEA concentrations, especially the molecular modeling of the role played by TEA in complex formation, were proposed. Good agreements between the experimental observation and theoretical predications are obtained, which not only indicates scientific insights to the formation mechanisms but also provides practical guides to morphological modifications of tin sulfide films.