Effect of Beta Radiation Exposure on the Properties of Tin Sulfide (Sn2S3) Thin Films for Solar Cell Applications

Electromagnetic radiation and charged particles affect semiconductors by excitation of electrons, an ionization process that leads to the generation of additional charge carriers, and the formation of crystal defects within the lattice. This study examined how exposure to beta β radiation affected a few characteristics of tin sulfide (SnS) thin films made using the spray pyrolysis method, which is used in solar cell technology. The produced thin films were subjected to three days of exposure to a pure beta source (Sr-90), and their conditions were monitored using XRD, FE-SEM, and UV absorbance. As the degree of crystallization and crystal size reduced, the result demonstrates the considerable effects of beta radiation on the structural properties.as well as a clear effect on the surface topography, and its effect on the optical properties by increasing the absorption, while the optical energy bandgap slightly decreased. The SnS3/Si heterojunction exhibits a photovoltaic effect and the efficiency is enhanced from 1.01 to 1.40% after irradiation.