Electroplated cadmium chalcogenide layers: Characterization and use in photoelectrochemical solar cells

CdSe and Cd(Se, Te) alloy layers were electroplated onto titanium substrates from both acid and alkaline baths. When annealed, these layers show good photoelectrode behaviour in a polysulphide electrolyte with high quantum efficiencies and stability. Donor densities are found to be in the range of 10¹⁴–10¹⁵ cm^-3. Scanning electron microscopy studies show the layers to have a very irregular morphology and generally to be composed of elongated spherical particles. Annealing conditions can be chosen such that the layers are of cubic or hexagonal structure.