Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, Vol.36, No.7, 821-826, 2006
A pulse plating method for the electrosynthesis of ZnSe
Polycrystalline, thin films of ZnSe semiconductor compound were formed by cathodic electrodeposition from acidic aqueous selenite solutions of zinc sulphate, by using a potentiodynamic technique involving the application of repeated double pulses of controlled potential. Conditions for obtaining coherently uniform deposits with enhanced ZnSe to Se ratios were specified, on the basis of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy results, by investigating the combined effect of the potential and length of each pulse as determined by duty cycle and frequency. It was shown that pulse plating process is a viable alternative to potentiostatic electrodeposition allowing improved control of the solid phase composition.
Keywords:aqueous electrochemistry;pulse electrodeposition;thin film chalcogenides;voltammetry;X-ray diffraction;zinc selenide