Effect of [Al] and [In] molar ratio in solutions on the growth and microstructure of electrodeposition Cu(In,Al)Se 2 films

Kuo Chan Huang, Chien Lin Liu, Pin Kun Hung, Mau Phon Houng

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this paper, the cyclic voltammetric studies were used to realize the element's reduction potential and chemical reaction mechanism for presuming the formation routes of quaternary Cu(In,Al)Se 2 crystals. Thereafter, the prior adjustment of deposited potential from -0.6 V to -1.0 V can be identified a suitable potential as co-electrodeposition. The material characteristics of Cu(In,Al)Se 2 films are dominated by the percentage of aluminum content. Thus, the influence of aluminum and indium concentrations in solutions on the percentage composition, surface morphology, structural and crystal properties, and optical energy band gap of Cu(In,Al)Se 2 films were investigated. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) indicated that the ratio of Al to (Al + In) in Cu(In,Al)Se 2 films varied from 0.21 to 0.42 when adjusting aluminum and indium concentrations in solutions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows that the surface morphology changed from round-like structures into cauliflower-like structures and became rough when the aluminum concentration increased and indium concentration decreased in solutions. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns revealed three preferred growth orientations along the (1 1 2), (2 0 4/2 2 0), and (1 1 6/3 1 2) planes for all species. The (αhυ) 2 versus hυ plots (UV-Visible) shows that the optical energy band gap of the Cu(In,Al)Se 2 films can be successfully controlled from 1.17 eV to 1.48 eV by adjusting the aluminum and indium concentrations. Furthermore, the shift of the (1 1 2) peak in the XRD patterns and variation of optical band gap are evidence that the incorporation of aluminum atoms into the crystallitic CuInSe 2 forms Cu(In,Al)Se 2 crystals.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)723-729
Number of pages7
JournalApplied Surface Science
Volume273
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013 May 15

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • General Physics and Astronomy
  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films

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