Gold-catalyzed synthesis of As2S3 nanolayers and their characterization by electron microscopy, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and DFT calculations

Abstract

We report on the growth of cage-like molecular nanocrystals on the surface of As2S3 films synthesized by gold-catalyzed thermally initiated chemical vapor deposition. The Si substrates covered with a layer of 5, 20, 40 and 60 nm spherical gold nanoparticles were placed downstream and maintained at temperature of ~100° C in a tube furnace flowed with As2S3 vapor for film preparation. The vapor was obtained by sublimation of As2S3 glass powder at temperature elevated up to ~300°C and was forced to downstream by H2/As carrier gas.