Dendritic CuIn Films Grown by Electroless Deposition

Abstract

CuInS₂ films are often grown in a two-step process with the deposition of a Cu-In alloy followed by high temperature sulphurisation in either S vapour or H₂ S. Numerous techniques exist for the deposition of Cu-In. In this work Cu-In films have been deposited on tin oxide coated glass using the electroless deposition technique, a low cost, low temperature approach. The films were found to consist of a two layered structure. Initially, Cu islands grew forming a layer on the substrate. The deposition process subsequently produced dendritic Cu-In alloys from the tops of the Cu islands. Various CuIn phases were observed, namely Cu₉In₄ and CuIn, the presence of which was related to the solution pH. None of the films were found to contain metallic In, indicating that this process may be well suited to subsequent high temperature sulphurisation.