Mechanical Behaviors of (As2S3)100-x(AgI)x Bulk Glasses and Thin Films

Surface Development of (As2S3)1–x (AgI)x Thin Films for Gas Sensor Applications

Thin (As2S3)100−x(AgI)x (x = 0–40) films were deposited by thermal vacuum evaporation from the respective bulk glasses; their structure and morphology before and after illumination with light have been studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). As-deposited films show fractional evaporation and surface inhomogeneities but after illumination they become uniform on the surface and in the depth as revealed by SEM top-view and cross-section images. Mechanical parameters like stress and microhardness of as-prepared and illuminated films were also investigated. The results from the stress measurements show variation in both the sign and the magnitude of the values with increasing AgI content …