Abstract
Rapidly declining global natural resources has ignited interest into alternative ‘green’ energy generation methods, such photovoltaic and thermoelectric materials. Therefore, there is the need to create materials suited to these applications.Metal monochalcogenides and dichalcogenides have recently attracted a lot of attention as emerging materials due to their remarkable properties such as low thermoelectric figures of merit. For the full potential of these materials to be realised, a reliable fabrication method needs to be developed. The following research explores the development of alternative energy generation materials. The focus lies upon thin film metal chalcogenide semiconductor materials and the utilisation of chemical vapour deposition (CVD) as a low energy, low cost, facile fabrication technique, that leads to the production of high-quality thin films.
Chapter 1 provides an introduction describing the need for alternative sustainable energy generation, followed by a brief introduction into both photovoltaic and thermoelectric materials as encouraging solutions. A general overview and insight into the current literature and research regarding chalcogenide thin film materials and their role within next generation energy applications is presented.
Chapter 2 describes the synthesis, characterisation, and structures of Bismuth and Tin thiobiuret complexes as well as Bismuth thioureide complexes for the deposition of Bi2S3 and SnS respectively. Thermal decomposition studies of the complexes are discussed. The use of the thiobiuret and thioureide complexes as precursors in aerosol- assisted CVD (AACVD) is established and the resultant films analysed.
Chapter 3 describes the synthesis, characterisation, and structures of main group selenoureide complexes formed from the reactions between the metal amide/metal HMDS and the mesityl selenoureide ligand. Thermal decomposition studies of the resultant complexes are discussed. The complexes were utilised as AACVD precursors, and the deposited films analysed.
Chapter 4 describes the synthesis, characterisation, and structures of transition metal selenoureide complexes formed from the reactions between the metal amide/metal HMDS and the mesityl selenoureide ligand. Thermal decomposition studies of the resultant complexes are discussed. Deposition of ZnSe was studied using the zinc complex as an AACVD precursor.
| Date of Award | 23 Mar 2022 |
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| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisor | Andrew Johnson (Supervisor), Daniel Wolverson (Supervisor) & Michael Hill (Supervisor) |