Sb₂Se₃ Thin-Film Growth by Solution Atomic Layer Deposition

We establish solution atomic layer deposition (sALD) for the controlled growth of pure Sb₂Se₃ thin films under mild conditions, namely, room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Upscaling this process yields Sb₂Se₃ thin films with high homogeneity over large-area (4″) substrates. Annealing of the initially amorphous material leads to highly crystalline and smooth Sb₂Se₃ thin films. Removing the constraints of thermal stability and sufficient volatility in sALD compared to traditional gas-phase ALD opens up a broad choice of precursors and allows us to examine a wide range of Se^2– precursors, of which some exhibit facile synthetic routes and allow us to tune their reactivity for optimal experimental ease of use. Moreover, we demonstrate that the solvent used in sALD represents an additional, attractive tool to influence and tailor the reactivity at the liquid–solid interface between the precursors and the surface.