Thin layer of chalcogenide spinel deposited by PLD method

The growing global population heightens the demand for sustainable energy, urging advancements in solar cell efficiency. As traditional technologies approach performance limits, there is an urgent need to explore new photovoltaic materials. A promising photovoltaic candidates, the family of ionic semiconductors of spinel type, Li₂ASn₃S₈ (where A=Cu, Mn or Fe), offers enhanced stability and defect tolerance compared to conventional materials. This study focuses on the preparation of copper lithium thiospinel via pulsed laser deposition technique (PLD). Complex chemical composition and presence of highly volatile sulphur require careful selection of growth parameters. We systematically examined the influence of laser fluence, laser repetition rate, gas pressure and the stoichiometry of the target. Analysing the chemical composition of samples grown under , the parameters of the growth leading to a stoichiometric sample were established.