ELECTRODEPOSITION OF CDTE THIN-FILMS AND THEIR PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL BEHAVIOR

CdTe thin films were electrodeposited on Ni substrates from aqueous solutions containing CdSO4, TeO2 and H2SO4 with an interchangeable rotating disk electrode. The variations in the composition of the CdTe films with cathodic potentials and heat treatment temperatures were studied by the polarographic method. The deposition and annealing parameters had been optimized to yield a good photoelectrochemical performance. After surface modification, the conversion efficiencies were 0.61% and 5.3% for the cells p-CdTe/SnCl2 (sat.), 0.2M HCl/C and n-CdTe/1 M Na2S, 1 M S, 1 M NaOH/C, respectively.