Unraveling the effect of Bi2S3 on the optical, electrical and magnetic properties of γ-MnS-based composite thin films.

(Bi2S3) x (γ-MnS) 1-x composite thin films have been deposited onto glass substrates using spray pyrolysis method. The structural and compositional investigations confirmed the co-existence of Bi 2 S 3 and γ-MnS binary compounds in the thin films. The surface morphology indicated that the increase in Bi 2 S 3 concentration influences both the shape and the size of γ-MnS crystallites. The optical analysis via transmittance and reflectance measurements revealed that the band gap energy E g decreased from 3.29 eV to 1.5 eV in terms of Bi 2 S 3 content. The electrical parameters such as resistivity ρ, mobility μ, carrier concentrations and Hall coefficient have been obtained by Hall Effect measurements. It is found than incorporation of Bi 2 S 3 enhances the conductivity, and p-type conduction of γ-MnS could be converted to n-type at x = 0.5. The vibrating sample magnetometer measurement has revealed that (Bi2S3) x (γ-MnS) 1-x composite thin films have a ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]