Characteristics of nanocrystallite-CdS produced by low-cost electrochemical technique for thin film photovoltaic application: The influence of deposition voltage

ECHENDU, Obi Kingsley, DEJENE, Francis Birhanu, DHARMADASA, I and EZE, Francis Chukwuemeka (2017). Characteristics of nanocrystallite-CdS produced by low-cost electrochemical technique for thin film photovoltaic application: The influence of deposition voltage. International Journal of Photoenergy, 2017, p. 3989432.

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Abstract

Electrochemical deposition and characterization of nanocrystallite-CdS thin films for thin film solar cell application are reported. The two-electrode system used provides a relatively simple and cost-effective approach for large-scale deposition of semiconductors for solar cell and other optoelectronic devices application. Five CdS thin films were deposited for 45 minute each at different cathodic deposition voltages in order to study their properties. X-ray diffraction study reveals that the as-deposited films contain mixed phases of hexagonal and cubic CdS crystallites with large amounts of internal strain and dislocation density. Post-deposition annealing results in phase transformation which leaves the films with only the hexagonal crystal phase and reduced strain and dislocation density while increasing the crystallite sizes from (21.0 – 42.0) nm to (31.2 – 63.0) nm. Photoelectrochemical cell study shows that all the CdS films have n-type electrical conductivity. Optical characterization reveals that all samples show similar transmittance and absorbance response with the transmittance slightly increasing towards higher growth voltages. All the annealed films show energy bandgap of 2.42 eV. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray analyses show that grains on the surface of the films tend to get cemented together after annealing following CdCl2 treatment while all the films are S-rich.

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/10.1155/2017/3989432
Page Range:	p. 3989432
Depositing User:	Jill Hazard
Date Deposited:	26 Sep 2017 11:40
Last Modified:	18 Mar 2021 16:07
URI:	https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16865

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