Antimony selenide (Sb2Se3) thin films were prepared on SnO2 coated glass substrates from acidic aqueous solution by potentiostatic electrodeposition and then post annealed at 300 degrees C in Ar atmosphere. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) studies were performed on as-deposited Sb2Se3 thin films to obtain suitable electrodeposition conditions. The annealed film shows improved crystallinity with a basic structure of orthorhombic Sb2Se3, and exhibits an optical absorption coefficient of higher than 105 cm(-1) in the visible region and an optical band gap of 1.04 +/- 0.01 eV. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) tests confirm the p-type conductivity and good photovoltaic conversion characteristics of the annealed film. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.