Electrodeposition of micro- and nanocrystalline lead selenide from alkaline selenosulfate solutions

Abstract

Cathodic electrodeposition of PbSe is carried out in aqueous alkaline selenosulfate (SeSO32−) bath of lead complex ions at various conditions of electrolysis. Micro- and nanocrystalline PbSe thin films were grown onto glassy carbon (GC) substrates by potentiostatic and cyclic voltammetric (CV) methods respectively. Structure and surface morphology of thin films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). X-ray diffraction indicates that the PbSe films have cubic structure without any impurities. The SEM micrograph showed the films cover GC substrate completely and consisted of irregular shaped grains.