Patent ID: 8143145

Claim:
A method of producing an n-type semiconductive indium sulfide thin film on a substrate using an indium-containing precursor, hydrogen sulfide as a reactive gaseous precursor, and an inert carrier gas stream, the method being carried out at atmospheric pressure and comprising: a) converting the indium-containing precursor to at least one of a dissolved and a gaseous phase, heating the substrate to a temperature in a range of 100° C. to 275° C., and directing the converted indium containing precursor onto the substrate and supplying hydrogen sulfide to the indium-containing precursor in an amount so as to provide an absolute concentration of hydrogen sulfide that is greater than zero and no greater than 1% by volume in a mixing zone, wherein the indium concentration of the indium-containing precursor is set so as to produce a compact In((OH) x ,X y ,S z ) 3 film, where X=halide and x+y+2z=1 with z≠0, b) setting a temperature of the substrate in a range of 18° C. and 450° C., and directing onto the substrate hydrogen sulfide in an absolute concentration up to 100%; and cyclically repeating steps a) and b) so as to produce an indium sulfide thin film of a desired thickness.