The effects of anode material type on the optoelectronic properties of electroplated CdTe thin films and the implications for photovoltaic application

ECHENDU, O. K., DEJENE, B.F. and DHARMADASA, I (2017). The effects of anode material type on the optoelectronic properties of electroplated CdTe thin films and the implications for photovoltaic application. Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids, 114, 100-108.

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Abstract

The effects of the type of anode material on the properties of electrodeposited CdTe thin films for photovoltaic application have been studied. Cathodic electrodeposition of two sets of CdTe thin films on glass/fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) was carried out in two-electrode configuration using graphite and platinum anodes. Optical absorption spectra of films grown with graphite anode displayed significant spread across the deposition potentials compared to those grown with platinum anode. Photoelectrochemical cell result shows that the CdTe grown with graphite anode became p-type after post-deposition annealing with prior CdCl2 treatment, as a result of carbon incorporation into the films, while those grown with platinum anode remained n-type after annealing. A review of recent photoluminescence characterization of some of these CdTe films reveals the persistence of a defect level at (0.97–0.99) eV below the conduction band in the bandgap of CdTe grown with graphite anode after annealing while films grown with platinum anode showed the absence of this defect level. This confirms the impact of carbon incorporation into CdTe. Solar cell made with CdTe grown with platinum anode produced better conversion efficiency compared to that made with CdTe grown using graphite anode, underlining the impact of anode type in electrodeposition.

Item Type:	Article
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018:	Materials and Engineering Research Institute > Advanced Coatings and Composites Research Centre > Electronic Materials and Sensors Research Group
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpcs.2017.11.020
Page Range:	100-108
Depositing User:	Jill Hazard
Date Deposited:	29 Nov 2017 16:44
Last Modified:	18 Mar 2021 01:24
URI:	https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/17459

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