ELECTRODEPOSITION AND PROPERTIES OF COPPER-DOPED CADMIUM-SULFIDE

Thin films of copper-doped CdS were co-electrodeposited (in situ doping) galvanostatically onto indium tin oxide coated glass substrates using dimethylsulphoxide solutions at 120-degrees-C containing cadmium chloride, elemental sulphur and copper (II) chloride. The doped crystals were characterized structurally based on X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy analysis. The photoconductive and optical properties of the co-deposited films were also examined. At a Cu concentration in the solution of below 5 x 10(-4) M, the grown films show good quality, while for [Cu] greater-than-or-equal-to 10(-3) M there is poor adhesion to the substrate and an amorphous-like structure.