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Characterization of cadmium sulfide buffer layers using electrolyte contacts

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journal contribution
posted on 2019-01-28, 11:07 authored by Wentao Deng, Laurence M. Peter, Fabiana Lisco, Jake BowersJake Bowers
© 2018 Elsevier B.V. Electrolyte contacts were used to characterize cadmium sulfide (CdS) films grown by chemical bath deposition on fluorine-doped tin oxide glass (FTO). Capacitance measurements were made in a buffered electrolyte free of redox species, and cyclic sweep voltammetry was carried out using an electrolyte containing Fe(CN)64− ions. A theoretical model was developed to describe the influence of pinholes on Mott Schottky plots of CdS-coated FTO. The model allows estimation of the pinhole coverage by fitting the Mott Schottky plot over an extended voltage range. Cyclic voltammetry in a hexacyanoferrate(II) electrolyte also allows detection of pinholes, but quantitative estimation of pinhole coverage is complicated by the fact that diffusion of Fe(CN)64− to pinholes occurs by hemispherical diffusion, which can substantially enhance the current response. Comparison of the results of capacitance and voltammetry measurements provides insights into average pore size and number density. Results presented for CdS films grown using two different chemical bath compositions reveal substantial differences in pinhole numbers and doping density.

Funding

This work was supported by the UK Engineering and Science Research Council (EPSRC): PVTeam Grant No. EP/L017792/1.

History

School

  • Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering

Published in

Thin Solid Films

Volume

671

Pages

12 - 17

Citation

DENG, W. ... et al., 2019. Characterization of cadmium sulfide buffer layers using electrolyte contacts. Thin Solid Films, 671, pp. 12 - 17.

Publisher

© Elsevier

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Publisher statement

This paper was accepted for publication in the journal Thin Solid Films and the definitive published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2018.12.024

Acceptance date

2018-12-13

Publication date

2018-12-15

Copyright date

2019

ISSN

0040-6090

Language

  • en