Influence of Electron Beam Irradiation on the Structural, Optical, and Electrical Properties of Ag₂Se Thin Films
V. G. Kurundkar *
Sinhgad College of Engineering, Pune, India.
V. P. Malekar
Department of Physics, Bhogawati Mahavidyalaya, Kurukali, India.
A. N. Sarwade
Sinhgad College of Engineering, Pune, India.
V. K. Chaudhari
Sinhgad College of Engineering, Pune, India.
V. J. Fulari
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Sambhajinagar, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The present work aims to investigate the effect of electron irradiation on the properties of silver selenide thin films. In this work, dendritic Ag₂Se thin films were synthesised via a facile, low-cost potentiostatic electrodeposition technique on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrates. Silver nitrate (AgNO₃) and selenium dioxide (SeO₂) were employed as precursor sources, while ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) served as a complexing agent to regulate ion release and crystal growth (5 mM AgNO₃ + 2.5 mM SeO₂ + 0.05 M EDTA). The phase composition, crystallographic structure, surface morphology, and optical properties of the deposited films were systematically investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and optical absorption spectroscopy. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of crystalline Ag₂Se without detectable secondary phases, whereas SEM revealed the evolution of highly branched dendritic architectures with well-defined fractal characteristics. Optical studies demonstrated the characteristic absorption behaviour of Ag₂Se, indicating its suitability for semiconductor-based applications. Furthermore, the growth mechanism of the dendritic structures was explained through a comparative investigation of the as-deposited films and those subjected to electron-beam irradiation, providing insights into the role of diffusion-limited growth and post-deposition structural evolution. The present electrodeposition strategy offers a scalable and energy-efficient route for fabricating Ag₂Se dendritic thin films with controlled morphology, opening new opportunities for their integration into advanced optoelectronic, thermoelectric, and energy-conversion devices.
Keywords: Silver selenide (Ag₂Se), Electrodeposition, Dendritic nanostructures, Thin films, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Optical properties Electron beam irradiation, Semiconductor materials; Optoelectronic materials