Nanocrystalline PbS thin film produced by alkaline chemical bath deposition: effect of inhibitor levels and temperature on the physicochemical properties

Abstract

In this study, nanocrystalline PbS film coating on a glass slide was done using the chemical bath deposition method. PbS film was deposited in an alkaline solution using Pb(NO3)(2), CS(NH2)(2), and the inhibitor (Na2S2O3) for 30-120 min at room temperature (25 degrees C) and 40 degrees C, and inhibitor levels were investigated in the range of 3.2 mM-12.7 mM. The physicochemical properties of the obtained thin films were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, MAPPING, atomic force microscopy, fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, water contact angle and X-ray diffraction analyses. The relationship between nanocrystallite size, distribution, pin-hole development, and synthesis conditions were examined using image processing and surface response methodology. The band gap of the produced PbS thin film was calculated using FT-IR analysis results (0.41 eV).