Thermal decomposition of copper(I) thiocarbamide chloride hemihydrate

Two combinations of simultaneous thermoanalytical techniques (TG+DTA and TG+EGA) were used to study the thermal decomposition of the title compound in order to gain a better insight into the spray pyrolytic processes leading to Cu2-xS and CuInS2 thin films. After dehydration a complex sequence of reactions starts above 220 degrees C leading through several intermediates to the formation of CuO in air at 1000 degrees C. In an inert atmosphere Cu2S is formed which in helium above 800 degrees C partly decomposes to Cu. XRD and FTIR were used to identify the intermediate solid phases which in air included CuCl, Cu2OSO4, Cu2OCl2 and CuSO4. EGA-FTIR confirmed the complex reaction mechanism with NH3, HCl, H2O, COS, CO2 and some HCN as main gaseous products under oxidative conditions.