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Electro-Plating and Characterisation of CdTe Thin Films Using CdCl 2 as the Cadmium Source

Author

Listed:
  • Nor A. Abdul-Manaf

    (Electronic Materials and Sensors Group, Materials and Engineering Research Institute, Faculty of Arts, Computing, Engineering and Sciences, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S1 1WB, UK
    Department of Physics, Centre for Defence Foundation Studies, National Defence University of Malaysia, Kem Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia)

  • Hussein I. Salim

    (Electronic Materials and Sensors Group, Materials and Engineering Research Institute, Faculty of Arts, Computing, Engineering and Sciences, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S1 1WB, UK)

  • Mohammad L. Madugu

    (Electronic Materials and Sensors Group, Materials and Engineering Research Institute, Faculty of Arts, Computing, Engineering and Sciences, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S1 1WB, UK)

  • Olajide I. Olusola

    (Electronic Materials and Sensors Group, Materials and Engineering Research Institute, Faculty of Arts, Computing, Engineering and Sciences, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S1 1WB, UK)

  • Imyhamy M. Dharmadasa

    (Electronic Materials and Sensors Group, Materials and Engineering Research Institute, Faculty of Arts, Computing, Engineering and Sciences, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S1 1WB, UK)

Abstract

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin films have been successfully prepared from an aqueous electrolyte bath containing cadmium chloride (CdCl 2 )·H 2 O and tellurium dioxide (TeO 2 ) using an electrodeposition technique. The structural, electrical, morphological and optical properties of these thin films have been characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, optical profilometry, DC current-voltage (I-V) measurements, photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. It is observed that the best cathodic potential is 698 mV with respect to standard calomel electrode (SCE) in a three electrode system. Structural analysis using XRD shows polycrystalline crystal structure in the as-deposited CdTe thin films and the peaks intensity increase after CdCl 2 treatment. PEC cell measurements show the possibility of growing p-, i- and n-type CdTe layers by varying the growth potential during electrodeposition. The electrical resistivity of the as-deposited layers are in the order of 10 4 Ω·cm. SEM and AFM show that the CdCl 2 treated samples are more roughness and have larger grain size when compared to CdTe grown by CdSO 4 precursor. Results obtained from the optical absorption reveal that the bandgap of as-deposited CdTe (1.48–1.52) eV reduce to (1.45–1.49) eV after CdCl 2 treatment. Full characterisation of this material is providing new information on crucial CdCl 2 treatment of CdTe thin films due to its built-in CdCl 2 treatment during the material growth. The work is progressing to fabricate solar cells with this material and compare with CdTe thin films grown by conventional sulphate precursors.

Suggested Citation

  • Nor A. Abdul-Manaf & Hussein I. Salim & Mohammad L. Madugu & Olajide I. Olusola & Imyhamy M. Dharmadasa, 2015. "Electro-Plating and Characterisation of CdTe Thin Films Using CdCl 2 as the Cadmium Source," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-21, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:8:y:2015:i:10:p:10883-10903:d:56528
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    Cited by:

    1. I. M. Dharmadasa & A. E. Alam, 2022. "How to Achieve Efficiencies beyond 22.1% for CdTe-Based Thin-Film Solar Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-23, December.

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