Cathodic electrodeposition and analysis of SnS films for photoelectrochemical cells

Thin films of p-SnS were cathodically electrodeposited on tin oxide conducting glass substrates from aqueous solution containing SnCl2 and Na2S2O3. The mechanism of electrochemical co-deposition of tin and sulphur is investigated by cyclic voltammetry. Deposits have been characterised with X-ray diffractograms, microstructure analysis, chemical analysis, optical and electrical measurements. The films were found to be polycrystalline with an optical energy gap of 1.15 eV. Mott–Schottky plot has been drawn (in the dark condition) to evaluate the semiconductor parameters. A photoelectrochemical cell with the configuration of p-SnS|Fe3+, Fe2+|Pt yielded a short-circuit current density of 0.65 mA cm−2, an open-circuit voltage of 320 mV under 100 mW cm−2 illumination.