Growth kinetics of solution grown Zn0.2Cd0.8S thin films

A study of the nucleation and growth kinetics of Zn_0.2Cd_0.8S thin films grown at about 90 degrees C by the solution growth method on various substrates, e.g. glass, tin-oxide coated glass, quartz, and p-Si, using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and electron diffraction techniques is presented. The appearance of the fiberous structure of Zn_0.2Cd_0.8S films grown on glass and tin-oxide coated glass in contrast with the appearance of spherical grains of Zn_0.2Cd_0.8S films grown on quartz and p-Si at smaller thicknesses clearly shows the role of the substrates in the growth of the films. It is also shown that with increasing thickness, the influence of the substrate surface decreases and the more stable crystalline phase appears.