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Thermoanalytical study of precursors for In2S3 thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis

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Abstract

Thermal decomposition of precursors for In2S3 thin films obtained by drying aqueous solutions of InCl3 and SC(NH2)2 at the In:S molar ratios of 1:3 (1) and 1:6 (2) was monitored by simultaneous TG/DTA/EGA-FTIR measurements in the dynamic 80%Ar + 20%O2 atmosphere. XRD and FTIR were used to identify the dried precursors and products of the thermal decomposition. The precursors 1 and 2 are complex compounds, while in 2 free SC(NH2)2 is also present. The thermal degradation of 1 and 2 in the temperature range of 30–900 °C consists of four mass loss steps, the total mass loss being 89.1 and 78.5%, respectively. According to XRD, In2S3 is formed below 300 °C, crystalline In2.24(NCN)3 is detected only in 1 above 520 °C and In2O3 is the final decomposition product at 900 °C. The gaseous species evolved include CS2, NH3, H2NCN, HNCS, which upon oxidation yield also COS, SO2, HCN and CO2.

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Acknowledgements

Financing by the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research under project SF0140092s08 and the Estonian Science Foundation under grants ETF6954 and ETF7788 are gratefully acknowledged. The authors thank Mrs. R. Aluvee and Mrs. A. Vaarman for the elemental analysis. Dr. J. Madarász is thanked for the literature reference. K. Otto acknowledges the graduate school “Functional materials and processes” for funding from the European Social Fund under the project 1.2.0401.09-0079.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia

    K. Otto, I. Oja Acik, A. Mere & M. Krunks

  2. Laboratory of Inorganic Materials, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia

    K. Tõnsuaadu

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  1. K. Otto
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  2. I. Oja Acik
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  3. K. Tõnsuaadu
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  4. A. Mere
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  5. M. Krunks
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Correspondence to M. Krunks.

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Otto, K., Oja Acik, I., Tõnsuaadu, K. et al. Thermoanalytical study of precursors for In2S3 thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis. J Therm Anal Calorim 105, 615–623 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-011-1507-8

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