Synthesis of CdSxSe1−x nanoparticles starting from CdS/CdSe bilayers deposited by chemical bath deposition for solar cell applications

Abstract

Results on alternative processing of CdSxSe1 − x nanoparticles, starting from the sequential growth of CdS/CdSe bilayers by a chemical bath deposition technique on soda lime substrate and their subsequent annealing are reported. Different salts, such as cadmium chloride and cadmium nitrate, were used as cadmium precursors to deposit different CdS and CdSe films. The impact of different salts on the formation of the CdSxSe1 − x nanoparticles is studied as a function of the S/(S + Se) compositional ratio. The structural, optical, and morphological properties of CdSxSe1 − x nanoparticles deposited with S/(S + Se) compositional ratios of 0.06, 0.22, 0.78, and 0.81 were analyzed. The x-ray diffraction, UV–vis, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, and EDX techniques were used to characterize CdSxSe1 − x nanoparticles. As an important result, it is found that band-gap energy of the ternary phase can be tailored as a function of S/(S + Se) composition.