Electrodeposition of CdTe thin films using nitrate precursor for applications in solar cells

SALIM, H.I., PATEL, V., ABBAS, A., WALLS, J. M. and DHARMADASA, I (2015). Electrodeposition of CdTe thin films using nitrate precursor for applications in solar cells. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, 26 (5), 3119-3128.

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Abstract

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin films have been electrodeposited (ED) on glass/fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates using simplified two-electrode system in acidic and aqueous solution containing Cd(NO3)2 4H2O and TeO2. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical absorption, photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have been carried out to study the structural, optical, electrical and morphological properties of the CdTe layers. The XRD study shows that the ED-CdTe layers are polycrystalline with cubic crystal structure. Results obtained from optical absorption reveal that the bandgaps of the as-deposited and the CdCl2 treated CdTe layers are in the ranges ~1.50 to ~1.54 eV and ~1.46 to ~1.51 eV, respectively. Observation from PEC measurements indicates a p-, i- and n-type electrical conductivity for as-deposited CdTe layers grown in the cathodic voltage range (1,247–1,258) mV. The SEM images indicate noticeable change in CdTe grain size from ~85 to ~430 nm after CdCl2 treatment with uniform surface coverage of the glass/FTO substrate. The TEM images show the columnar growth structure for as-deposited and CdCl2 treated CdTe layers. The TEM images also indicate an increase in grain’s diameter from ~50 to ~200 nm after CdCl2 treatment.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Published online: 8 February 2015.
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/10.1007/s10854-015-2805-x
Page Range:	3119-3128
Depositing User:	Helen Garner
Date Deposited:	16 Feb 2015 13:13
Last Modified:	18 Mar 2021 04:34
URI:	https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/9419

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