Electrodeposition of PbS multilayers on Ag(111) by ECALE

Abstract

Lead sulfide (PbS) thin films were grown on a single crystal Ag(111) substrate by Electrochemical Atomic Layer Epitaxy (ECALE) method, i.e., by alternated underpotential deposition (UPD) of lead and sulfur. The electrochemical analysis includes the investigation of the underpotential deposition processes of both Pb and S, and the characterization of deposits obtained with different deposition cycles to confirm the attainment of the right stoichiometric ratio between Pb and S. The morphological analysis has been performed by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) for deposits formed with 50 and 75 deposition cycles and at different times of exposition to the atmosphere.