Solvent influenced synthesis of single-phase SnS2 nanosheets for solution-processed photodiode fabrication

Abstract

The effect of variant high boiling point solvent combinations in the synthesis and photo-sensing characteristics of tin disulfide (SnS₂) thin nanosheets were investigated. Solvent dependent single-phase formation was observed by powder X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and results were verified with Raman spectroscopy measurements. Particles synthesized with only oleylamine show a mixed-phase, and two other solvent combinations such as oleylamine + oleic acid + n-octadecene, and oleylamine + oleic acid, show single-phase 2H–SnS₂, without phase contamination. Scanning and transmission electron microscopes were used to verify the orbicular and hexagonal shape of synthesized SnS₂ nanosheets. Well-characterized samples were employed to fabricate heterojunction photosensitive diodes using a p-type silicon substrate. Light-responsive measurement results of fabricated diodes indicate that the oleylamine + oleic acid synthesized sample show very high light-sensitivity, and the fill factor value of a fabricated diode is closer to the ideal diode.