Improvements in lifetime of CdSe photoanodes by partially reduced polypirrole films

In the present paper results obtained in photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells are presented. Electrochemically deposited CdSe photoanodes, covered by reduced polypirrole films have been studied. In particular, polypirrole was polymerized through an electrodeposition technique utilizing oxidation and reduction cycles. This procedure allows to obtain conducting polymer films with optical characteristics more suitable to the employement in PEC cells. Both CdSe and polypirrole films have been characterized utilizing several experimental techniques, mainly in order to determine their cristallograpliic properties and their uniformity. The morphology of polycrystalline CdSe films was widely studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction. The behavior of current flowing in the cell versus time for CdSe electrodes covered by polymer films was analyzed. A good evidence for a protectioii effect is given.