Polycrystalline thin films

Cathodic deposition of lead sulfide from acidic aqueous solutions of Pb(II) ions (nitrate salts mainly) and Na2S203 on various metallic substrates at room temperature has been reported. Stoichiometric PbS films composed of small crystallites (estimated XRD diameter 13 nm) of RS structure were obtained at constant potential on Ti [204]. Also, single-phase, polycrystalline thin films of RS PbS were electrode-posited potentiostatically on Ti, Al, and stainless steel (SS) [205]. It was found that the Al and Ti substrates promoted growth of PbS with prominent (200) and (111)... 

Successful electrodeposition of Sb2To3 has been reported for the first time by Leimkiihler et al. [229] who prepared polycrystalline thin films of the material on different transparent conductive oxides, as well as CdTe and Mo, from uncomplexed solutions made by mixing stock solutions of SbCb, Te02, and phthalate buffer (pH 4). The electrochemical process was discussed in detail based on results obtained by cyclic voltammetry on ITO/glass. The bath temperature was found to influence... 

PEC Setup Cell Combining Polycrystalline Thin-Film Solar... 

Water is involved in most of the photodecomposition reactions. Hence, nonaqueous electrolytes such as methanol, ethanol, N,N-d i methyl forma mide, acetonitrile, propylene carbonate, ethylene glycol, tetrahydrofuran, nitromethane, benzonitrile, and molten salts such as A1C13-butyl pyridium chloride are chosen. The efficiency of early cells prepared with nonaqueous solvents such as methanol and acetonitrile were low because of the high resistivity of the electrolyte, limited solubility of the redox species, and poor bulk and surface properties of the semiconductor. Recently, reasonably efficient and fairly stable cells have been prepared with nonaqueous electrolytes with a proper design of the electrolyte redox couple and by careful control of the material and surface properties [7], Results with single-crystal semiconductor electrodes can be obtained from table 2 in Ref. 15. Unfortunately, the efficiencies and stabilities achieved cannot justify the use of singlecrystal materials. Table 2 in Ref. 15 summarizes the results of liquid junction solar cells prepared with polycrystalline and thin-film semiconductors [15]. As can be seen the efficiencies are fair. Thin films provide several advantages over bulk materials. Despite these possibilities, the actual efficiencies of solid-state polycrystalline thin-film PV solar cells exceed those obtained with electrochemical PV cells [22,23]. 

PEC cell that uses polycrystalline thin-film solar cells with a photoanode. 

Banger, K. K. Hollingsworth, J. A. Harris, J. D. Cowen, J. Buhro, W. E. Hepp, A. F. 2002. Ternary single-source precursors for polycrystalline thin-film solar cells. Appl. Organomet. Chem. 16 617-627. 

Contreas, M. Egaas, B. Ramanathan, K. 1999. Progress toward 20% efficiency in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 polycrystalline thin-film solar cells. Prog. Photovolt. Res. App. 7 311-316. 

Ullal, H. S. Zweibel, K. Roedern, B. V. 1997. Current status of polycrystalline thin-film PV technologies. Proceedings of the 26th IEEE PVSC (Anaheim, CA). pp. 301-305. 

Chemical vapor deposition [37,38], and thermal or anodic oxidation of Ti substrates [39,40,41] have been used to prepare polycrystalline thin films of Ti02. For example, thin films of Ti02 prepared by anodic oxidation of Ti, followed by electrodeposition of In20s from 0.5 M 102(504)3 show enhanced optical absorption up to 500 nm [42] with the In203 modified electrode showing enhanced photocurrent and photovoltage partially due to the low electrical resistance (10 Q) and reduced overvoltage of the photoanode. 

The photoelectrochemical behavior of a given photoanode is dependent on its method of synthesis. Various methods, some of which we now briefly consider, such as anodic oxidation, spray pyrolysis, reactive sputtering and vapor deposition are commonly employed to make polycrystalline thin films. 

For example, a low critical current density has been shown useful in using BaPb B Og as a microwave switch. The transmission of 2.8 GHz microwaves through a polycrystalline thin film was switched on in less than 30 ns via a high current pulse (107), resulting in short microwave pulses. 

Figure 7. Spectral response of polycrystalline, thin-film, painted CdSeo.esTe0.3.-, photoelectrode in 7M KOH, S", S solution. Corrected for photon density wavelength...

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