Zinc sulfide thin films grown by SILAR on poly (vinyl chloride) and polycarbonate substrates

Abstract

Zinc sulfide thin films were grown at room temperature and ambient pressure on poly(vinyl chloride)(PVC) and polycarbonate (PC) substrates using the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. For PVC substrates, washing with ethanol was sufficient for adsorption of the first layer, but PC substrates needed a pretreatment with KMnO₄ followed by rinsing with HO and water. In addition a KOH pretreatment was used for both substrate materials. The ZnS films were homogeneous and the attachment of the films to the polymer surface was good. The ZnS films were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS).