Effects of Annealing on Thermally Evaporated SnSe Thin Films

Abstract

SnSe alloy in alkaline medium was synthesized at 100°C using SnCl2.2H2O and selenium as source materials. The powder X-ray diffraction patterns recorded for synthesized product confirmed the formation of nanocrystalline SnSe material. The synthesized SnSe was made as pellets and used as the source materials for the deposition of SnSe thin films on the glass substrate by thermal evaporation method at room temperature (RT) and at various substrate temperatures of 150°C, 250°C, 350°C and 450°C. The deposited films were annealed at 450°C for 30 min under the vacuum of ∼ 10−5 Torr. The effects of annealing on the structural and optical properties of the as deposited SnSe films are reported in this article. Scanning Electron Microscopy shows the modification in surface morphology of SnSe thin films due to annealing. Annealing of the films reduces the transmittance and enhances optical band gap of SnSe films.