Growth,electrical conductivity and microindentation studies of CuInS2 single crystals

Summary Single crystals of copper indium disulfide (CuInS₂) have been grown by chemical-vapour transport technique (CVT) using iodine as the transporting agent. The obtained phase was checked by X-ray diffractometry and the presence of copper, indium and sulfur in the grown crystals was confirmed by Energy-Dispersive Spectrum Analysis (EDSA). The mechanical properties of the grown crystals were studied using microindentation analysis. Optical-transmission measurements were done to determine the energy gap of the grown crystals. The four-probe technique was used to measure the electrical properties of the grown crystals. The as-grown crystals were found to bep-type conducting and they were converted ton-type by suitable annealing treatment. The electrical parameters of bothn- andp-type crystals were measured.