Triethanolamine-facilitated one-step electrodeposition of CuAlSe2 thin films and the mechanistic studies utilizing cyclic voltammetry

Abstract

Abstract The electrochemical behavior of the compositional ingredients CuCl 2 , AlCl 3 and SeO 2 individually or collectively in acidic aqueous solution was investigated on a glassy carbon electrode using the technique of cyclic voltammetry. Co-electrodeposition mechanism of CuAlSe 2 was attempted to be unraveled through cyclic voltammetric study of the electroactive species. The formation of CuAlSe 2 was found to be achieved by the generation of the compounds Al 2 Se 3 and Cu 2 Se via reductions and/or chemical reactions of the precursors. Triethanolamine as the complexing agent was introduced in the electrodeposition of CuAlSe 2 on indium doped tin oxide glass substrates in order to assist the deposition and the stoichiometric composition of CuAlSe 2 thin films was fabricated. The deposited thin films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, UV–Vis spectrometry, Auger electron spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry analysis.