Deposition of CdTe by spray pyrolysis

Abstract

We report the spray pyrolysis of thin films of CdTe which show promise as a base material for solar cell applications. The films predominately show a zinc blende structure and appear to be intrinsic. Microprobe analysis indicates an excess of cadmium but this is not detectable by X-ray diffraction or from electrical conduction measurements. Measurements indicate a nominal direct bandgap of 1.47 eV and an absorption coefficient of the order of 10 4 cm −1. The room temperature electrical resistivity is of the order of 10 7 Ω cm.