Baking impact of Fe composition on CdSe films for solar cell application

• Published in: Materials letters Vol. 132; pp. 243 - 246
• Main Authors: Shinde, S.K., Dubal, D.P., Ghodake, G.S., Lee, D.S., Lohar, G.M., Rath, M.C., Fulari, V.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2014
• Subjects: Cadmium selenides; Contact angle; EDAX; Electrochemical properties; Field emission; Fluorine; Intermetallics; Iron; Nanostructure; Nanostructures; Thin film; Thin films; Electrochemical properties; Nanostructures; EDAX; Thin film
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2014.06.099

Cd1−XFeXSe thin films were electrodeposited onto fluorine doped tin oxide coated conducting glass (FTO) and stainless steel (SS) substrates at various bath compositions with X=0.1 to 0.5 in an aqueous electrolytic bath containing CdSO4, FeSO4 and SeO2. The effects of different compositions on physico-chemical properties of Cd1-XFeXSe thin films have been systematically investigated. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals the polycrystalline in nature of Cd1−XFeXS thin films. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) micrographs shows the variation in the nanostructure with varying compositions. The Cd1−XFeXSe thin films exhibited the water contact angles in hydrophilic range. Optical absorption measurements are used to estimate the band gap value of Cd1−XFeXSe thin films deposited at various bath compositions. The dramatic changes in surface morphology, as a consequence of different composition of Fe in CdSe matrix, significantly alter the conversion efficiency of Cd1−XFeXSe films. The current density-applied voltage (J–V) plot of rods-like Cd0.8Fe0.2Se thin film in dark and in the light illumination with SEM image [Display omitted] •Electrochemical synthesis of Cd1−XFeXSe thin films.•Thin films exhibit nanorod-like nanostructure.•Provides maximum 0.38% photo-conversion efficiency for Cd0.8Fe0.2Se films.