Abstract
The present paper investigates a simple and non-toxic method to transform amorphous iron oxide pre-deposited by spray pyrolysis of FeCl
3·6H
2O (0.03
M)-based aqueous solution onto glass substrates heated at 350
°C into FeSe
2 thin films. The amorphous iron oxide films were heat treated under a selenium atmosphere (10
−4
Pa) at different temperatures for 6
h. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to investigate the structure of the obtained films. Single FeSe
2-phase films having good crystallinity were obtained at a selenisation temperature of 550
°C. Optical analyses of the FeSe
2 films obtained at 550
°C enabled us to deduce a large absorption coefficient (
α
>
1
0
5
cm
-
1
,
λ
<
800
nm
). Surface scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations show inhomogeneous films. Electrical conductivity of the as-prepared films was measured at high and low temperatures.