Optical studies of as-deposited and annealed Cu₇GeS₅I thin films

Cu₇GeS₅I thin films were obtained by non-reactive radio frequency magnetron sputtering onto silicate glass substrates. Optical transmission spectra of as-deposited and annealed Cu₇GeS₅I thin films were measured in the temperature interval 77–300 K. The temperature behaviour of Urbach absorption edge...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Datum:2016
Hauptverfasser: Studenyak, I.P., Bendak, A.V., Rybak, S.O., Izai, V.Yu., Kúš, P., Mikula, M.
Format: Artikel
Sprache:English
Veröffentlicht: Інститут фізики напівпровідників імені В.Є. Лашкарьова НАН України 2016
Schriftenreihe:Semiconductor Physics Quantum Electronics & Optoelectronics
Online Zugang:http://dspace.nbuv.gov.ua/handle/123456789/121563
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
Назва журналу:Digital Library of Periodicals of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Zitieren:Optical studies of as-deposited and annealed Cu₇GeS₅I thin films / I.P. Studenyak, A.V. Bendak, S.O. Rybak, V.Yu. Izai, P. Kúš, M. Mikula // Semiconductor Physics Quantum Electronics & Optoelectronics. — 2016. — Т. 19, № 2. — С. 192-196. — Бібліогр.: 15 назв. — англ.

Institution

Digital Library of Periodicals of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
id irk-123456789-121563
record_format dspace
spelling irk-123456789-1215632017-06-15T03:04:45Z Optical studies of as-deposited and annealed Cu₇GeS₅I thin films Studenyak, I.P. Bendak, A.V. Rybak, S.O. Izai, V.Yu. Kúš, P. Mikula, M. Cu₇GeS₅I thin films were obtained by non-reactive radio frequency magnetron sputtering onto silicate glass substrates. Optical transmission spectra of as-deposited and annealed Cu₇GeS₅I thin films were measured in the temperature interval 77–300 K. The temperature behaviour of Urbach absorption edge and dispersion of refractive index for as-deposited and annealed Cu₇GeS₅I thin films was analyzed. Influence of annealing on the optical parameters and disordering processes in Cu₇GeS₅I thin films was studied. 2016 Article Optical studies of as-deposited and annealed Cu₇GeS₅I thin films / I.P. Studenyak, A.V. Bendak, S.O. Rybak, V.Yu. Izai, P. Kúš, M. Mikula // Semiconductor Physics Quantum Electronics & Optoelectronics. — 2016. — Т. 19, № 2. — С. 192-196. — Бібліогр.: 15 назв. — англ. 1560-8034 DOI: 10.15407/spqeo19.02.192 PACS 78.40.Ha, 77.80.Bh http://dspace.nbuv.gov.ua/handle/123456789/121563 en Semiconductor Physics Quantum Electronics & Optoelectronics Інститут фізики напівпровідників імені В.Є. Лашкарьова НАН України
institution Digital Library of Periodicals of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
collection DSpace DC
language English
description Cu₇GeS₅I thin films were obtained by non-reactive radio frequency magnetron sputtering onto silicate glass substrates. Optical transmission spectra of as-deposited and annealed Cu₇GeS₅I thin films were measured in the temperature interval 77–300 K. The temperature behaviour of Urbach absorption edge and dispersion of refractive index for as-deposited and annealed Cu₇GeS₅I thin films was analyzed. Influence of annealing on the optical parameters and disordering processes in Cu₇GeS₅I thin films was studied.
format Article
author Studenyak, I.P.
Bendak, A.V.
Rybak, S.O.
Izai, V.Yu.
Kúš, P.
Mikula, M.
spellingShingle Studenyak, I.P.
Bendak, A.V.
Rybak, S.O.
Izai, V.Yu.
Kúš, P.
Mikula, M.
Optical studies of as-deposited and annealed Cu₇GeS₅I thin films
Semiconductor Physics Quantum Electronics & Optoelectronics
author_facet Studenyak, I.P.
Bendak, A.V.
Rybak, S.O.
Izai, V.Yu.
Kúš, P.
Mikula, M.
author_sort Studenyak, I.P.
title Optical studies of as-deposited and annealed Cu₇GeS₅I thin films
title_short Optical studies of as-deposited and annealed Cu₇GeS₅I thin films
title_full Optical studies of as-deposited and annealed Cu₇GeS₅I thin films
title_fullStr Optical studies of as-deposited and annealed Cu₇GeS₅I thin films
title_full_unstemmed Optical studies of as-deposited and annealed Cu₇GeS₅I thin films
title_sort optical studies of as-deposited and annealed cu₇ges₅i thin films
publisher Інститут фізики напівпровідників імені В.Є. Лашкарьова НАН України
publishDate 2016
url http://dspace.nbuv.gov.ua/handle/123456789/121563
citation_txt Optical studies of as-deposited and annealed Cu₇GeS₅I thin films / I.P. Studenyak, A.V. Bendak, S.O. Rybak, V.Yu. Izai, P. Kúš, M. Mikula // Semiconductor Physics Quantum Electronics & Optoelectronics. — 2016. — Т. 19, № 2. — С. 192-196. — Бібліогр.: 15 назв. — англ.
series Semiconductor Physics Quantum Electronics & Optoelectronics
work_keys_str_mv AT studenyakip opticalstudiesofasdepositedandannealedcu7ges5ithinfilms
AT bendakav opticalstudiesofasdepositedandannealedcu7ges5ithinfilms
AT rybakso opticalstudiesofasdepositedandannealedcu7ges5ithinfilms
AT izaivyu opticalstudiesofasdepositedandannealedcu7ges5ithinfilms
AT kusp opticalstudiesofasdepositedandannealedcu7ges5ithinfilms
AT mikulam opticalstudiesofasdepositedandannealedcu7ges5ithinfilms
first_indexed 2025-07-08T20:07:44Z
last_indexed 2025-07-08T20:07:44Z
_version_ 1837110676246495232
fulltext Semiconductor Physics, Quantum Electronics & Optoelectronics, 2016. V. 19, N 2. P. 192-196. doi: 10.15407/spqeo19.02.192 © 2016, V. Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine 192 PACS 78.40.Ha, 77.80.Bh Optical studies of as-deposited and annealed Cu7GeS5I thin films I.P. Studenyak1, A.V. Bendak1, S.O. Rybak1, V.Yu. Izai1, P. Kúš2, M. Mikula2 1Faculty of Physics, Uzhhorod National University, 3, Narodna Sq., 88000 Uzhhorod, Ukraine 2Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, Mlynska dolina, 84248 Bratislava, Slovakia, E-mail: studenyak@dr.com Abstract. Cu7GeS5I thin films were obtained by non-reactive radio frequency magnetron sputtering onto silicate glass substrates. Optical transmission spectra of as-deposited and annealed Cu7GeS5I thin films were measured in the temperature interval 77–300 K. The temperature behaviour of Urbach absorption edge and dispersion of refractive index for as-deposited and annealed Cu7GeS5I thin films was analyzed. Influence of annealing on the optical parameters and disordering processes in Cu7GeS5I thin films was studied. Keywords: thin film, magnetron sputtering, annealing, optical absorption, refractive index, Urbach rule. Manuscript received 14.12.15; revised version received 06.04.16; accepted for publication 08.06.16; published online 06.07.16. 1. Introduction Cu7GeS5I crystals belong to the argyrodite family of tetrahedrally close-packed structures and are known as superionic conductors [1]. Some electrochemical properties of Cu7GeS5I crystals are reported in Ref. [2]. They are characterized by high electrical conductivity and low activation energy [3]. Optical studies have shown that the absorption edge of Cu7GeS5I crystals exhibits Urbach behaviour in a wide temperature range [3]. The compositional dependence of the lattice parameter of the alloys and single crystals of Cu7GeS5I– Cu7GeSe5I system was shown to be linear, described by the Vegard law, which is the evidence for formation of a continuous row of substitutive solid solutions [4]. At room temperature Cu7GeS(Se)5I-based solid solutions crystallize in the cubic symmetry (space group mF 34 ). The short-wavelength edge of the diffuse reflection spectra of Cu7Ge(S1–xSex)5I solid solutions is shown to shift towards longer wavelengths with the substitution of S atoms by Se [4]. The compositional studies of electrical conductivity in Cu7Ge(S1–xSex)5I solid solutions revealed that S→Se anionic substitution results in a nonlinear increase of the electrical conductivity by more than an order of magnitude [5]. It should be noted that the total electrical conductivity of Cu7GeSe5I crystals at room temperature was found to be rather high and typical for the advanced superionic conductors [6]. Due to the high ionic conductivity, they are the attractive materials for applications in the different functional elements of the solid state ionics. Semiconductor Physics, Quantum Electronics & Optoelectronics, 2016. V. 19, N 2. P. 192-196. doi: 10.15407/spqeo19.02.192 © 2016, V. Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine 193 The investigations of the thin films based on Cu7GeS5I superionic conductors only begin. Thus, in this paper the optical properties of Cu7GeS5I thin films are studied. Besides, the comparative analysis of optical parameters in single crystals and thin films as well as the comparative analysis of optical parameters in as- deposited and annealed thin films are performed. 2. Experimental Cu7GeS5I compounds were synthesized from extra pure Cu, Ge, S and CuI compounds, additionally purified by distillation in vacuum. Thin films of Cu7GeS5I compounds were deposited onto silicate glass substrates by non-reactive radio frequency magnetron sputtering, the film growth rate was 3 nm/min. The deposition was carried out at room temperature in Ar atmosphere. The structure of the deposited films was analyzed by X-ray diffraction; the diffraction patterns show the films to be amorphous. Annealing was performed for 24 h at 100 ºC in vacuum. Optical transmission spectra of Cu7GeS5I thin films were studied in the interval of temperatures 77–300 K by an MDR-3 grating monochromator, UTREX cryostat was used for low-temperature studies. Spectral dependences of absorption coefficient and dispersion dependences of refractive index of thin films were calculated using the well-known method [7]. 3. Results and discussion The optical transmission spectra at different temperatures in the interval of temperatures 77–300 K in as-deposited Cu7GeS5I thin film are shown in Fig. 1. A long-wavelength shift of short-wavelength part of absorption spectra and interference maxima with increasing of temperature is observed. The same temperature behaviour of transmission spectra was revealed for annealed Cu7GeS5I thin film. Fig. 1. Optical transmission spectra of Cu7GeS5I thin film at various temperatures: (1) 77, (2) 150, (3) 200, (4) 250 and (5) 300 K. Fig. 2. Spectral dependences of the absorption coefficient of Cu7GeS5I thin film at various temperatures: 77 (1), 150 (2), 200 (3), 250 (4), and 300 K (5). The insets show the temperature dependence of the steepness parameter σ as well as the temperature dependences of the absorption edge energy position Eg α (α = 104 cm–1) (1) and Urbach energy EU (2). Table. The parameters of Urbach absorption edge and EPI for Cu7GeS5I crystal and thin films. Material As- deposited film Annealed film Crystal α gE (300 K), eV 2.162 2.090 2.125 UE (300 K), meV 163.8 131.9 35.0 0α , cm–1 5.18×104 5.31×104 1.1×106 0E , eV 2.431 2.310 2.371 0σ 0.223 0.265 0.81 pωh , meV 59.3 54.6 28.7 Eθ , K 688 634 333 ( )0UE , meV 132.2 103.1 17.8 ( )1UE , meV 281.4 210.0 35.1 )0(α gE , eV 2.213 2.138 2.247 α gS 7.67 6.36 8.5 Fig. 2 presents the spectral dependences of the absorption coefficient at different temperatures in interval 77–300 K for as-deposited Cu7GeS5I thin film. It is shown that the optical absorption edge for both as- deposited and annealed Cu7GeS5I thin films in the region of its exponential behaviour are described by Urbach rule [8] Semiconductor Physics, Quantum Electronics & Optoelectronics, 2016. V. 19, N 2. P. 192-196. doi: 10.15407/spqeo19.02.192 © 2016, V. Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine 194 ( ) ⎥ ⎦ ⎤ ⎢ ⎣ ⎡ −ν ⋅α=να )( exp, 0 0 TE EhTh U , (1) where )(U TE is the Urbach energy, α0 and E0 are the coordinates of the convergence point of the Urbach bundle, hν and T are the photon energy and temperature, respectively. Constants α0 and E0 for as-deposited and annealed Cu7GeS5I thin films are given in Table. For comparison the Table contains the corresponding parameters for Cu7GeS5I crystal. The exponential form of the long-wavelength side of the absorption edge is usually associated with exciton (electron)-phonon interaction (EPI) [9]. The Urbach energy )(TEU is related to another parameter, the slope of the Urbach edge )(Tσ as )()( TkTTEU σ= , k being the Boltzmann constant. The inset in Fig. 2 shows that for Cu7GeS5I thin film in whole investigated temperature interval the σ(T) dependence described by the Mahr relation [9]: ( ) ⎟⎟ ⎠ ⎞ ⎜⎜ ⎝ ⎛ ω ⋅⎟ ⎟ ⎠ ⎞ ⎜ ⎜ ⎝ ⎛ ω ⋅σ=σ kT kTT p p 2 tanh2 0 h h (2) where σ0 is a constant independent of temperature and related to the EPI constant g as σ0 =2/3g; pωh is the effective average phonon energy in a single-oscillator model, describing the EPI. For as-deposited and annealed Cu7GeS5I thin films σ0 < 1, which is an evidence for the strong EPI [10]. The values of effective phonon energy pωh taking part in formation of the absorption edge and σ0 parameter are given in Table. It is revealed that annealing leads to the insignificant weakening of EPI (increase of σ0 parameter) and decrease of pωh value. For the characterization of the absorption edge spectral position, such parameter as α gE ( α gE is the energy position of the exponential absorption edge) at a fixed absorption coefficient value α was determined. We used the α gE values taken at α = 104 cm–1 for thin films as well as α = 103 cm–1 for single crystal (Table). The temperature dependences of the α gE and Urbach energy EU for Cu7GeS5I thin film are presented in the inset in Fig. 2. It is shown that for as-deposited and annealed Cu7GeS5I thin films it can be described in the Einstein model by relations [11, 12] ( ) ⎥ ⎦ ⎤ ⎢ ⎣ ⎡ −θ θ−= ααα 1exp 1)0()( E E T kSETE ggg , (3) ( ) ( ) ( ) ⎥ ⎦ ⎤ ⎢ ⎣ ⎡ −θ += 1exp 1)( 1U0UU T EETE E (4) where )0(α gE and α gS are the energy position of absorption edge at 0 K and a dimensionless constant, respectively; Eθ is the Einstein temperature, corresponding to the average frequency of phonon excitations of a system of non-coupled oscillators, ( )0UE and ( )1UE are constants. The )0(α gE , α gS , Eθ , ( )0UE and ( )1UE parameters obtained for the as- deposited and annealed Cu7GeS5I thin films are listed in Table. The temperature dependences of the α gE and Urbach energy EU for as-deposited Cu7GeS5I thin film calculated from Eqs. (3) and (4) are shown in the inset in Fig. 2 by solid and dashed lines, respectively. It should be noted that the α gE and EU values are seen to decrease with annealing. The Urbach energy EU decrease being an evidence for the ordering processes in the annealed film. Besides, Table contains the above mentioned parameters for Cu7GeS5I single crystal. It is revealed that the optical absorption edge spectra of the thin films under investigation is highly smeared and characterize by the lengthy Urbach tail which results in high values of the Urbach energy EU (Table). Absorption edge smearing and appearance of its Urbach behaviour are explained by the influence of different types of disordering [13], i.e. the Urbach energy EU is described by the equation ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) dynXstatX TXT EE EEEE ,U,U UUUU ++ +=+= (5) where ( )TEU and ( )XEU are the contributions of temperature and structural disordering to EU, respectively. In Ref. [14] it is shown that structural disordering ( )XEU consists from the contributions of static structural disordering ( ) statXE ,U and dynamic structural disordering ( ) dynXE ,U . The static structural disordering ( ) statXE ,U in Cu7GeS5I thin film is primarily caused by structural imperfections due to the high concentration of disordered copper vacancies and the dynamic structural disordering ( ) dynXE ,U is related to the intense motion of mobile copper ions, participating in the ion transport, and is responsible for the ionic conductivity. The first term in the right-hand side of Eq. (4) represents the static structural disordering, and the second one represents temperature-related types of disordering: temperature disordering due to thermal lattice vibrations and dynamic structural disordering due to the presence of mobile ions in the superionic conductor. Preliminary electrical studies have shown the total electrical conductivity of the thin film at T = 300 K to be tσ = 0.07 S/m at the frequency of 1 MHz. Thus, the thin film prepared on the base of Cu7GeS5I compound was shown to be characterized by a high value of the electrical conductivity which can be used for the creation of miniature solid electrolyte batteries and supercapacitors of new generation. Semiconductor Physics, Quantum Electronics & Optoelectronics, 2016. V. 19, N 2. P. 192-196. doi: 10.15407/spqeo19.02.192 © 2016, V. Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine 195 Fig. 3. Refractive index dispersions of Cu7GeS5I thin film at various temperatures: 77 (1), 150 (2), 200 (3), 250 (4) and 300 K (5). The inset shows the temperature dependence of refractive index. For the estimation of the contribution of the different types of disordering into the Urbach energy EU we used the procedure described in Ref. [15]. Thus, the contribution of static structural disordering into the as-deposited Cu7GeS5I film Urbach energy is shown to be 80.7%. The high value of above mentioned contribution for Cu7GeS5I thin film caused by the (1) the absence of long-range order in the atomic arrangement and chemical bond breakdown, (2) a lower density of the atomic structure packing due to the presence of pores, (3) transition from the three- dimensional bulk structure to the two-dimensional planar structure. It is revealed that annealing leads to the decrease of absolute and relative contributions of static structural disordering into EU what is the evidence of structural ordering. Dispersion dependences of the refractive index for the as-deposited Cu7GeS5I thin film (Fig. 3) were obtained from the interference transmission spectra. In the transparency region a slight dispersion of the refractive index is observed, increasing with approaching the optical absorption edge. With increasing temperature, a nonlinear increase of the refractive index in the as-deposited and annealed Cu7GeS5I thin films is revealed. Besides, the annealing leads to the refractive index increase from 2.360 to 3.120 at λ = 1 µm. Finally, it should be noted that the transition from crystal to thin film caused the substantial increase of Urbach energy EU, enhance the EPI (decrease of σ0 parameter) and increase of the effective phonon energy pωh as well as the increase of the relative contribution of static structural disordering into EU from 50.9 to 80.7%. 4. Conclusions Cu7GeS5I thin films are deposited onto silicate glass substrates by non-reactive radio frequency magnetron sputtering. Temperature behaviour of the optical transmission spectra for as-deposited and annealed Cu7GeS5I thin films is similar in the interval 77–300 K. With increasing temperature, a red shift of the optical absorption edge was revealed, in the range of its exponential behaviour is well described by the Urbach rule. The temperature dependences of the energy position of absorption edge, the Urbach energy, and the refractive index of as-deposited and annealed Cu7GeS5I thin films were analyzed. The temperature and structural disorder affect the shape of the Urbach absorption edge, the contribution of static structural disordering into the Urbach energy for the as-deposited and annealed Cu7GeS5I thin films was estimated. Acknowledgements Andrii Bendak (contract number 51501903) is strongly grateful to the International Visegrad Fund scholarship for the funding of the project. References 1. W.F. Kuhs, R. Nitsche, K. Scheunemann, The argyrodites – a new family of the tetrahedrally close-packed srtuctures // Mater. Res. Bull. 14, p. 241-248 (1979). 2. Yu.M. Stasyuk, O.P. Kokhan, V.V. Panko, S.K. Kovach, Preparation and some properties of Cu7GeS5I and Cu7GeSe5I compounds // Visnyk UzhDU: Ser. Khim. 4, p. 9-12 (1999). 3. I.P. Studenyak, M. Kranjčec, Gy.Sh. Kovacs, I.D. Desnica-Frankovic, A.A. Molnar, V.V. Panko, V.Yu. Slivka, Electrical and optical absoprtion studies of Cu7GeS5I fast-ion conductor // J. Phys. Chem. Solids, 63, p. 267-271 (2002). 4. I.P. Studenyak, O.P. Kokhan, M. Kranjčec, V.V. Bilanchuk, V.V. Panko, Influence of S→Se substitution on chemical and physical properties of Cu7Ge(S1–xSex)5I superionic solid solutions // J. Phys. Chem. Solids, 68, p. 1881-1884 (2007). 5. I.P. Studenyak, M. Kranjčec, V.V. Bilanchuk, O.P. Kokhan, A.F. Orliukas, A. Kezionis, E. Kazakevicius, T. Salkus, Temperature and compositional behaviour of electrical conductivity and optical absorption edge in Cu7Ge(S1–xSex)5I mixed superionic crystals // Solid State Ionics, 181, p. 1596-1600 (2010). 6. I.P. Studenyak, M. Kranjčec, V.V. Bilanchuk, O.P. Kokhan, A.F. Orliukas, E. Kazakevicius, A. Kezionis, T. Salkus, Temperature variation of electrical conductivity and absorption edge in Cu7GeSe5I advanced superionic conductor // J. Phys. Chem. Solids, 70, p. 1478-1481 (2009). Semiconductor Physics, Quantum Electronics & Optoelectronics, 2016. V. 19, N 2. P. 192-196. doi: 10.15407/spqeo19.02.192 © 2016, V. Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine 196 7. R. Swanepoel, Determination of the thickness and optical constants of amorphous silicon // J. Phys. E: Sci. Instrum. 16, p. 1214-1222 (1983). 8. F. Urbach, The long-wavelength edge of photo- graphic sensitivity and of the electronic absorption of solids // Phys. Rev. 92, p. 1324-1326 (1953). 9. H. Sumi, A. Sumi, The Urbach-Martienssen rule revisited // J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 56, p. 2211-2220 (1987). 10. M.V. Kurik, Urbach rule (Review) // Phys. Status Solidi (a), 8, p. 9-30 (1971). 11. M. Beaudoin, A.J.G. DeVries, S.R. Johnson, H. Laman, T. Tiedje, Optical absorption edge of semi-insulating GaAs and InP at high temperatures // Appl. Phys. Lett. 70, p. 3540-3542 (1997). 12. Z. Yang, K.P. Homewood, M.S. Finney, M.A. Harry, K.J. Reeson, Optical absorption study of ion beam synthesized polycrystalline semicon- ducting FeSi2 // J. Appl. Phys.78, p. 1958-1963 (1995). 13. G.D. Cody, T. Tiedje, B. Abeles, B. Brooks, Y. Goldstein, Disorder and the optical-absorption edge of hydrogenated amorphous silicon // Phys. Rev. Lett. 47, p. 1480-1483 (1981). 14. I.P. Studenyak, M. Kranjčec, Gy.Sh. Kovacs, I.D. Desnica, V.V. Panko, V.Yu. Slivka, Influence of compositional disorder on optical absorption processes in Cu6P(S1–xSex)5I crystals // J. Mat. Res. 16, p. 1600-1608 (2001). 15. I.P. Studenyak, M. Kranjčec, M.V. Kurik, Urbach rule and disordering processes in Cu6P(S1–xSex)5Br1–yIy superionic conductors // J. Phys. Chem. Solids, 67, p. 807-817 (2006).