Low-cost synthesis of ZnCdSe semiconducting thin films for optoelectronic applications

ZnCdSe ternary alloys form an important class of semiconducting system, which has a wide range of applications in opto-electronic devices in the entire visible spectrum. They are used in the fabrication of blue light emitting diodes, blue lasers, solar cells, thin film transistors and photoelectrochemical solar cells, etc. Synthesis of such an important material using low cost technique is necessary for the effective application of this valuable system. Electrodeposition is a cost effective, versatile and viable technique for the synthesis of thin film materials. In this study, synthesis of thin films of (ZnCd)Se system from aqueous acidic mixture using potentiostatic electrodeposition is discussed. The physical properties of these films deposited onto transparent conducting tin oxide coated glasses are estimated. The optimized deposition conditions are determined and the films were used as photoelectrodes in poly sulphide electrolytes. The films are found to exhibit reproducible good photoelectrochemical behavior. The result of these studied are reported.