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Laser processing of copper sulfide thin film prepared by spray pyrolysis

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Abstract

Copper sulfide (Cu2S) thin films were deposited by spray pyrolysis technique on glass substrate at 370 °C from aqueous solutions of copper chloride dehydrate (CuCl2.2H2O) and thiourea (SC(NH2)2). The sprayed film was blackish brown in color, well adhered to the substrate, pin-hole free and uniformly distributed. The film was treated by a laser beam of 805 nm. The structural, surface morphological, optical and electrical properties of the films were measured, before and after laser treatment, by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy SEM, EDAX, optical transmittance and reflectance and two point probe technique. XRD showed close structure of copper rich phase (chalcocite, Cu2S) for both as-deposited and laser treated films. Laser treated film showed an increment in the crystallite size, proved by XRD and SEM image. It also showed a red shift in the optical band gap calculations, as well as, a higher electrical conductivity. The electrical conductivity of the sprayed Cu2S films depends on the stoichiometry in the films. Both as-deposited and laser treated films showed highly absorber coefficient which may have the potential as absorber layer in solid state solar cells.

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Acknowledgements

This work is apart from NRC Project No. 10/1/13, titled “Effect of laser treatment on sprayed films from-sulfide based solar cell materials deposited on nontraditional substrates.” Financial support by the National research center, Egypt (NRC) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Solid State Physics Department, National Research Center, Dokki, Giza, 12311, Egypt

    F. A. Mahmoud, W. Magdy & Mahmoud Nasr

  2. Solar Cell Lab, Center of Excellence for Advanced Sciences, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, P.O.12311, Egypt

    F. A. Mahmoud & W. Magdy

  3. Department of Laser Sciences and Interactions, National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences, Cairo University, Giza, 12613, Egypt

    A.-S. Gadallah & I. M. Azzouz

  4. Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Center of Excellence for Advanced Sciences, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, P.O.12311, Egypt

    Mahmoud Nasr

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  1. F. A. Mahmoud
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Correspondence to W. Magdy.

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Mahmoud, F.A., Magdy, W., Gadallah, AS. et al. Laser processing of copper sulfide thin film prepared by spray pyrolysis. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 28, 6284–6291 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-016-6310-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-016-6310-7

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