Growth and microstructure of SnS films prepared by electro deposition technique

SnS thin films were cathodically electrodeposited on tin oxide coated conducting glass substrates from aqueous solution containing SnCl/sub 4/ and Na/sub 2/S/sub 2/O/sub 3/. The films showed Herzbergite orthorhombic structure established by their XRD patterns. Flakes/needle like crystal structure is obtained in as deposited samples, due to the anisotropic growth of various crystal planes. On annealing these needle like structure grows into platelet like structure. The films were found to be polycrystalline with optical energy band gap of 1.4 eV. Oxidation of the films by annealing at high temperature of 400/spl deg/C in open air changes SnS to SnO/sub 2/.