Spray pyrolytically deposited PbS thin films

The spray pyrolysis technique has been employed to prepare uniform, large-area thin-film coatings of PbS on glass and on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) conducting substrates at various substrate temperatures. Growth of polycrystalline PbS films occurred at a lower temperature ( T S = 275 °C) on conducting substrate than on glass ( T S = 325 °C) and oriented growth of polycrystalline cubic PbS occurred on FTO substrates. Characterization of the films has been carried out using x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and electrical resistivity studies. The optical transmittance spectra of these films have been taken for a wavelength range of 400-2500 nm. The films are found to be n type and their conductivities are of the order of 10 -4 (Ω cm) -1 . The lattice parameter value is presented. The average crystallite size of the films is of the order of 10 3 Å and the average grain size is of the order of 10 4 Å. Solar control properties of spray pyrolytically deposited PbS thin films have been investigated.