Growth from solution of CdTe films by conversion of chemically deposited cadmium oxide hydroxide films

• Published in: Solar energy Vol. 86; no. 11; pp. 3326 - 3330
• Main Authors: Ochoa-Landín, R., Castillo, S.J., Ramírez-Bon, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2012; Elsevier; Pergamon Press Inc
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Aqueous solutions; Cadmium; CdTe; Chemical deposition; Diffraction; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Electrical properties; Electronics; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Ions; Molecular structure; Natural energy; Optoelectronic devices; Photoelectric conversion; Photovoltaic conversion; Polymer films; Scanning electron microscopy; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Structural properties; Electrical properties; CdTe; Structural properties; Chemical deposition; Binary compound; Chemical bath deposition; Basic solution; Glass; Citrate; Immersion; Reducing agent; Cadmium chloride; Cadmium tellurides; Growth from solution; Nanocrystal; Electrical characteristic; Complexation; Scanning electron microscopy; X ray diffraction; Solar cell; Crystalline material; Sodium; Aqueous solution; Cadmium hydroxide; X-ray photoelectron spectra
• ISSN: 0038-092X; 1471-1257
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2012.09.003

► CdTe polycrystalline films growth from solution. ► Chemically deposited Cd(OH)2 films employing sodium citrate as complexing agent. ► Stable Te ions solution by reducing metallic Te powder. Cadmium oxide hydroxide films were grown on glass substrates by the chemical bath deposition technique and subsequently converted to CdTe films by immersion in a stable alkaline aqueous solution containing Te ions. The chemical deposition of cadmium oxide hydroxide films was based on CdCl2 as the source of Cd ions and sodium citrate as the complexing agent. The solution containing Te ions was prepared employing hydroxymethane sulfinic acid as reducing agent. Both types of films were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results show that cadmium oxide hydroxide films are nanocrystalline with cubic structure and they were successfully converted by ionic exchange to crystalline CdTe films with cubic structure.