Year: 2025 | Month: November | Volume: 12 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 330-337
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20251136
Investigation of the Influence of Precursor Concentration (SbCl3) on the Optical Properties of CuSbS2 Thin Films As-Deposited
J.C. Echewodo, B.C. Anusionwu, E.C. Mbamala, O.K. Echendu
Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 1526, Owerri, Nigeria
Corresponding Author: J.C. Echewodo
ABSTRACT
This research investigated the impact of different concentrations of antimony trichloride (SbCl₃) on the optical characteristics of copper antimony sulfide (CuSbS₂) thin films in their as-deposited state. These films were synthesized using the Chemical Bath Deposition (CBD) method, with precursors including CuCl₂·2H₂O, SbCl₃, Na₂S₂O₃·5H₂O, and thiourea (NH₂CSNH₂). Triethanolamine (TEA) and acetone served as complexing agents, while an NH3/NH₄Cl solution acted as the buffer. The resulting films were characterized using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF), and UV-Vis Spectroscopy. Findings revealed that increasing the SbCl₃ concentration altered the bandgap of the CuSbS₂ films, with the highest bandgap of 1.92 eV recorded at a concentration of 1.8 M. The films showed strong absorption in both the UV and visible ranges, suggesting their suitability for applications in photodetectors and solar cell absorber layers.
Keywords: Solar cells, CuSbS2 as-deposited, Precursors, Bandgap, Thin films
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