Photoelectrochemical solar cell study of electrochemically synthesized Cd(1-x)ZnxTe thin films

Abstract

Cd1-xZnxTe thin films of different zinc concentrations were prepared using simple and cost effective electrodeposition technique. The films were coated on FTO substrates using a chemical bath consisting of CdSO4, ZnSO4 and TeO2. In this deposition of Cd1-xZnxTe thin films electrodeposition potential, bath temperature, precursor concentrations and pH were optimized. The morphological, structural and optical characterizations of the films deposited with various zinc compositions are also reported. The grown films displayed a high-quality polycrystalline films with crystallites orientation along (1 1 1) direction. The deposited Cd1-xZnxTe alloy films showed direct band gaps varying between 1.67 and 2.15 eV depending upon zinc concentration. Photo electrochemical (PEC) solar cells fabricated using the grown alloy films of different zinc concentration showed increased efficiency for the increase of zinc concentration.