Triethanolamine-facilitated one-step electrodeposition of CuAlSe₂ thin films and the mechanistic studies utilizing cyclic voltammetry

The electrochemical behavior of the compositional ingredients CuCl₂, AlCl₃ and SeO₂ individually or collectively in acidic aqueous solution was investigated on a glassy carbon electrode using the technique of cyclic voltammetry. Co-electrodeposition mechanism of CuAlSe₂ was attempted to be unraveled through cyclic voltammetric study of the electroactive species. The formation of CuAlSe₂ was found to be achieved by the generation of the compounds Al₂Se₃ and Cu₂Se via reductions and/or chemical reactions of the precursors. Triethanolamine as the complexing agent was introduced in the electrodeposition of CuAlSe₂ on indium doped tin oxide glass substrates in order to assist the deposition and the stoichiometric composition of CuAlSe₂ thin films was fabricated. The deposited thin films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, UV-Vis spectrometry, Auger electron spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry analysis.