CdSe thin films prepared by electrochemical deposition: The effect of deposition potential

Abstract

Cadmium selenide (CdSe) films have been prepared on conducting glass substrates by potentiostatic electrochemical deposition for the use in solar energy harvesting devices. The effect of deposition potential on the morphological, structural, and optical properties of CdSe films has been examined. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy confirm the polycrystalline nature of CdSe films which exhibit the phase shift from wurtzite to zincblende structure with increase in negative deposition potential. The nanostructured CdSe films possess good optical absorbance in visible spectral region with possible red shift in direct optical bandgap from 1.93 to 1.73 eV with increase in deposition potential due to change in phase and bandgap tuning related to quantum confinement effect. The results suggest CdSe as an efficient absorber material in photovoltaics and photoelectrochemical cells.