Electrodeposition of lead selenide thin films

PbSe thin films have been electrodeposited potentiostatically from aqueous solutions containing lead complexed with EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) and SeO2. The effects of deposition parameters such as deposition potential, concentrations of source materials and current density were studied. Cyclic voltammetry was used for studying the film deposition reactions and for finding the appropriate deposition potential range. The films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RES), elastic recoil detection analysis (ERDA), deuteron induced reactions and profilometry. Nearly stoichiometric, smooth, mirror-like PbSe films were obtained at deposition potentials between -0.6 and -0.8 V vs. saturated calomel electrode (SCE) when the concentration of lead was ten times higher than the concentration of selenium, and between -0.4 and -0.75 V vs. SCE when the lead excess was a hundred-fold.