Tuning of SnS Thin Film Conductivity on Annealing in an Open Air Environment for Transistor Application

  • Thomas Daniel Department of Physics/Geology/Geophysics, Alex Ekwueme-Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi state, Nigeria; Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology Minna, Minna, Niger state, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5176-9181
  • Uno Uno Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology Minna, Minna, Niger state, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6693-5894
  • Kasim Isah Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology Minna, Minna, Niger state, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9670-7697
  • Umaru Ahmadu Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology Minna, Minna, Niger state, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5966-0853
Keywords: SnS thin film, annealing, conductivity, grain size, transistor, semiconductor

Abstract

The study aimed at enhancement and optimisation of SnS conductivity via annealing for field effect transistor’s semiconductor channel layer application. Interstitials and vacancies in SnS films are known to cause carrier traps which limit charge carriers and hence limit the achievement of the threshold voltage for a field effect transistor operation. Tuning of SnS conductivity for transistor application is of emerging interest for novel device operation. SnS thin film semiconductors of 0.4  thickness were deposited using Aerosol assisted chemical vapour deposition and annealed in open air at annealing temperatures of150, 200, 250, 300 and 350 . Variation of the annealing temperature from 150 through 250  enhances the crystallinity of the annealed thin film samples by increasing the number of crystallites of the annealed films which is also buttress by the decreasing values of FWHM. However a further decrease in crystallite size at higher annealing temperature of 300 to 350  was observed which could be attributed to the fragmentation of clusters of crystallites at higher annealing temperature. Increase in annealing temperature increases grain size leading to the reduction in grain boundaries and potential barrier thereby changing the structure and phase of the films which in essence affects the electrical conductivity of the SnS thin films. The films annealed at 250 exhibited optimum conductivity. The average hall coefficients of the samples deposited at 150 to 250  were positive which indicates that the films annealed at this temperature range are of p type conduction while the average hall coefficients of the samples deposited at 300 and 350  were negative indicating that the films are of n type conduction. The conductivity change is essential for the use of SnS as a semiconductor channel layer especially in a field effect transistor where the device can be tuned to work as a p type or n type semiconductor channel layer.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

T.O. Daniel, Uno EU, K.U. Isah, and U. Ahmadu, EEJP, 3, 71-80 (2019), https://doi.org/10.26565/2312-4334-2019-3-09.

P. Thiruramanathan, G.S. Hikku, R. Krishna-Sharman, and S.M. Siva, International Journal of Technochem Research, 1(1), 59 65 (2015).

Du H, Lin Xi, Xu Z, and Chu D, J. Mater. Sci. 50, 5641-5673 (2015), https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-9121-y.

H. Yuan, X. Wang, and B. Lian, National Nanotechnology, 9, 851-857 (2014), https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2014.183.

M. Devika, N.R. Koteeswara, K. Ramesh, K.R. Gunasekhar, E.S.R. Gopal, and R.K.T. Ramakrishna, 21, 1125-1131 (2006), https://doi.org/10.1088/0268-1242/21/8/025.

A. Sugaki, A. Kitakaze, and H. Kitazawa, Science Reports of the Tohoku University, Series III, 16(2), 199–211 (1985),

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Arashi_Kitakaze/publication/307507517_Synthesized_tin_and_tin-silver_sulfide_minerals_Synthetic_sulfide_minerals_XIII/links/5a268779aca2727dd88136bd/Synthesized-tin-and-tin-silver-sulfide-minerals-Synthetic-sulfide-minerals-XIII.pdf.

T.H. Patel, The open surface science journal, 4, 6-13 (2012), http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1876531901204010006.

B.J. Babu, A. Maldonado, S. Velumani, and R. Asomoza, Material Science and Engineering B, 174, 31-37 (2010), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mseb.2010.03.010.

M. Safonova, P.P.K. Nair, E. Mellikov, R. Aragon, K. Kerm, R. Naidu, and O. Volobujeva, Proceedings of the Estonian academy of sciences, 64(4), 488-494 (2015), http://www.kirj.ee/26577/?tpl=1061&c_tpl=1064.

E. Guneri, F. Gode, C. Ulutas, F. Kirmizigul, G. Altindemir, and C. Gumus, Chalcogenides letters, 7(12), 685-694 (2010), http://chalcogen.ro/685_Guneri.pdf.

K. Nadarajah, C.Y. Chee, and C.Y. Yan, Journal of Nanomaterials, 2013, 146382 (2013), http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/146382.

Rasband WS, ImageJ, National institute of health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA, http://imagej.nih.gov/ij/1997-2014.

G. Julio, M.D. Merindano, M. Canals and M. Rallo, Journal of anatomy, 212, 879-886 (2008), https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7580.2008.00898.X.

T.S. Reddy and M.C. Kumar, RSC Adv. 6, 95680-95692 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1039/C6RA20129F.

Citations

Tuning the properties of RF sputtered tin sulphide thin films and enhanced performance in RF sputtered SnS thin films hetero-junction solar cell devices
Nwofe Patrick Akata & Sugiyama Mutsumi (2021) Zeitschrift für Naturforschung A
Crossref

Published
2020-04-03
Cited
How to Cite
Daniel, T., Uno, U., Isah, K., & Ahmadu, U. (2020). Tuning of SnS Thin Film Conductivity on Annealing in an Open Air Environment for Transistor Application. East European Journal of Physics, (2), 94-103. https://doi.org/10.26565/2312-4334-2020-2-08