Mössbauer study of electrochemically deposited amorphous iron-sulfide-oxide thin films

Abstract

Iron-sulfide-oxide thin films, which are promising candidates for solar cell materials, were deposited by electrochemical deposition. As-deposited and annealed films were characterized by Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman scattering at room temperature. The as-deposited film is amorphous, and the oxygen content is about 1/4 of the sulfur content (S/Fe ≈ 1.5, O/Fe ≈ 0.4). The Mössbauer spectrum for the as-deposited film is a doublet with a broad line profile having hyperfine parameters similar to those of FeS2 pyrite or marcasite. This indicates that Fe atoms are in the Fe2+ low-spin state, as in FeS2.