{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.04183195095564371, 'fraction_numerical': 0.020915975477821855, 'mean_word_length': 5.150776053215077, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Fabrication of single-phase SnS film by H2 annealing of amorphous SnSx prepared by atomic layer deposition

This study evaluated a simple and novel route to fabricate single-phase SnS thin films, consisting of the growth of smooth amorphous SnS2 films by atomic layer deposition at very low temperature using tetrakis(dimethylamino)tin {TDMASn, [(CH3)2N]4Sn} and hydrogen sulfide followed by H2 annealing at controlled higher temperatures. The properties of the SnS films fabricated by subjecting the amorphous as-grown SnS2 films deposited at 100 °C to post-H2 annealing at 360 °C were superior to those of the as-grown SnS films deposited at 200 °C in terms of their phase purity, optical band gap, adhesion, and surface roughness. Raman spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, and atomic force microscopy consistently showed that single-phase, stoichiometric crystalline (orthorhombic structure) SnS films (Sn/S ratio: ∼1), without any incorporated sulfur-rich tin sulfides, could be fabricated with a very low surface roughness [root mean square (RMS) roughness: ∼7 nm] using the proposed scheme. On the other hand, the as-grown SnS film at 200 °C still contained a small amount of SnS2 phase and its RMS surface roughness was as high as 16 nm. The optical band gap of the as-grown SnS film was 1.85 eV, whereas that of the annealed SnS film was ∼1.2 eV, confirming the latter's improved phase purity. The SnS film fabricated by H2 annealing was a p-type semiconductor with a carrier concentration of ∼2.3 × 1016/cm3 and a hole mobility of ∼15 cm2/V s. The present scheme to prepare high-quality SnS films might be useful for fabricating photovoltaic or solar conversion devices.This study evaluated a simple and novel route to fabricate single-phase SnS thin films, consisting of the growth of smooth amorphous SnS2 films by atomic layer deposition at very low temperature using tetrakis(dimethylamino)tin {TDMASn, [(CH3)2N]4Sn} and hydrogen sulfide followed by H2 annealing at controlled higher temperatures. The properties of the SnS films fabricated by subjecting the amorphous as-grown SnS2 films deposited at 100 °C to post-H2 annealing at 360 °C were superior to those of the as-grown SnS films deposited at 200 °C in terms of their phase purity, optical band gap, adhesion, and surface roughness. Raman spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, and atomic force microscopy consistently showed that single-phase, stoichiometric crystalline (orthorhombic structure) SnS films (Sn/S ratio: ∼1), without any incorporated sulfur-rich tin sulfides, could be fabricated with a very low surface roughness [root mean square (RMS) rough...