Effect of Annealing Temperature on Optical and Structural Properties of Solution Processed As2S3 Chalcogenide Glass Films

In the present paper, we report the effect of annealing temperature on optical properties of solution processed As2S3 Chalcogenide Glass (ChG) films. Solution processing of ChG films is a low cost, low temperature, scalable route for deposition of high quality films. Annealing of solution processed ChG films is a crucial step for the removal of residual solvent from the films. The optimization of the annealing temperature and corresponding optical properties of ChG films helps in better utilization of these films in functional devices. As2S3 glass was synthesized using melt quenching. The as-prepared As2S3 glass was dissolved in n-butylamine. The solution was then deposited onto glass substrates in the form of thin films. The as-prepared As2S3 glass films were annealed at different temperatures. As-annealed As2S3 glass films were studied using UV-Visible Spectroscopy, Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman Spectroscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDAX) spectroscopy to undestand the effect of annealing on the structural and optical properties of the films