Cathodic deposition of CdSe films from dimethyl formamide

solution at optimized temperature

J. Datta
a, ,
, C. Bhattacharya
a, b
and S. Bandyopadhyay
c

a
Department of Chemistry, Bengal Engineering and Science University, Shibpur, Howrah 711 103, West Bengal, India
b
Visiting Research Associate, School of Materials Science and Engineering, UNSW, Australia
c
School of Materials Science and Engineering, UNSW, Sydney 2052, Australia
Received 13 December 2005;
revised 14 April 2006;
accepted 18 April 2006.
Available online 30 May 2006.

Abstract
In the present paper, thin film CdSe compound semiconductors have been electroplated on transparent conducting
oxide coated glass substrates from nonaqueous dimethyl formamide bath containing CdCl2, KI and Se under controlled
temperature ranging from 100 to 140 C. Thickness of the deposited films as obtained through focussed ion beam
technique as well as their microstructural and photoelectrochemical properties have been found to depend on temperature.
The film growth was therefore optimized at a bath temperature 125 C. The formation of crystallites in the range of
100150 nm size has been ascertained through atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Energy
dispersive analysis of X-rays for the as deposited film confirmed the 1:1 composition of CdSe compound in the matrix
exhibiting band-gap energy of 1.74 eV. Microstructural properties of the deposited films have been determined through
X-ray diffraction studies, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction pattern analysis.
Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and current-potential measurements have been performed to characterize
the electrochemical behavior of the semiconductorelectrolyte interface. The photo-activity of the films have been
recorded in polysulphide solution under illumination and solar conversion efficiency 1% was achieved.
Keywords: Semiconductors; Liquid-junction solar cells; Electrodeposition; Activation energy; Electron microscopy;
Electrochemical properties
PACS classification codes: 84.60.Dn; 81.05.E; 81.15.Pq; 61.16.B; 73.40.M
Materials Chemistry and Physics
Volume 89, Issue 1, 15 January 2005, Pages 170-175

doi:10.1016/j.matchemphys.2004.09.002 | How to Cite or Link Using DOI Cited By in Scopus (12)
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Studies on anodic corrosion of the electroplated CdSe in aqueous
and non-aqueous media for photoelectrochemical cells and
characterization of the electrode/electrolyte interface
Chinmoy Bhattacharya and Jayati Datta
,

Department of Chemistry, B.E. College (Deemed University), PO B. Garden, Howrah 711103, West Bengal, India
Received 31 March 2004;
revised 30 August 2004;
accepted 6 September 2004.
Available online 26 October 2004.

Abstract
Polycrystalline n-CdSe thin films were prepared by electrodeposition at controlled current density on conducting substrates.
The optical characteristics were determined through transmittance spectra. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force
microscopy were employed to study the morphology of the semiconductor (SC) surfaces. Chemical composition of the
SC film was established by EDAX analysis. The n-CdSe/electrolyte junctions in water and non-aqueous solvents like
acetonitrile (ACN), dimethyl formamide (DMF), dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and propylene carbonate (PC) were characterized
by MottSchottky analysis using frequency response analyzer. The stability of CdSe layers in water and in non-aqueous
solvents was determined through anodic polarization studies. Anodic stripping voltammetry was employed to find out the
dissoluted Cd
2+
in solution. Photovoltage was measured under illuminated conditions using ferroceneferricenium couple
in aqueous and non-aqueous solvents throughout the temperature range of 2070 C. The results are indicative of the
potential use of the electrodeposited n-CdSe in selected non-aqueous medium for solar energy conversion
by photoelectrochemical (PEC) devices.
Keywords: Chalcogenides; Crystal growth; Atomic force microscopy (AFM); Electrochemical properties