Electrodeposition of Cu 2 Se Semiconductor Thin Film on Se-Modified Polycrystalline Au Electrode

Abstract

This study describes the electrodeposition of Cu2Se thin films with atwo-step approach that is based on the initial modification ofpolycrystalline Au electrode with a selenium overlayer followed by acathodic stripping of the layer as Se2- in a 1 M lactic acid electrolytecontaining Cu2+ ions. For this two-step approach to be effective, theCu2+ reduction potential should be shifted to more negative potentialspassed potentials for the reduction of Se to Se2-. This was accomplishedby the complexation of Cu2+ ions with lactic acid. The resultant Cu2Sefilms were characterized by linear sweep voltammetry combined withelectrochemical quartz crystal microgravimetry, UV-vis absorptionspectrometry and Raman spectroscopy. Photoelectrochemical experimentsrevealed that Cu2Se synthesized thus, behaved as a p-type semiconductor.