Thioether functionalised gallium and indium alkoxides in materials synthesis

Abstract

The thermolysis behaviour of a new class of metal alkoxides containing a thioether functionality in the alkyl chain is described. Homoleptic gallium alkoxides with sufficient volatility have been investigated in low pressure chemical vapour deposition (CVD) showing the potency of the thioether to act as a sulphidisation agent during decomposition of the precursor leading to Ga₂O_3−xS_x films. Similar thermolysis experiments were conducted in high boiling point solvents leading to Ga₂O_3−xS_x and In₂O_3−xS_x particles. The thermolysis products have been investigated by SEM, EDX, XRD and XPS. Moreover, initial tests of the electrical transport properties of amorphous Ga₂O_3−xS_x films have been conducted, showing increased conductivity and altered activation energies for the sulphur containing films.