Single Source Precursors for Calcium Sulfide (CaS) Deposition

Here we describe preliminary studies into the synthesis structural characterisation and thermal properties of a family of calcium xanthate precursors for application in the deposition of CaS thin films. The straightforward, low-temperature syntheses are detailed along with characterisation of the resulting compounds by 1H and 13C NMR and elemental analysis. Solid state molecular structures of all compounds, obtained from single-crystal X-ray diffraction, are presented and discussed in detail. The decomposition behaviour of the precursors has been probed through TGA, TGA-MS and thermal annealing experiments, indicating that the compounds decompose cleanly into CaS.