Characterization of copper indium ditelluride/electrolyte interface utilizing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

    Authors

    A. Vijayakumar; T. B. Du;K. B. Sundaram

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Appl. Surf. Sci.

    Keywords

    copper indium telluride; semiconductor; impedance; flat-band; surface; chemistry; FILM SOLAR-CELLS; PHOTOLUMINESCENCE SPECTRA; SEMICONDUCTOR ELECTRODES; SINGLE-CRYSTALS; PASSIVE FILM; CUINTE2; DEPENDENCE; FREQUENCY; STEEL; Chemistry, Physical; Materials Science, Coatings & Films; Physics, ; Applied; Physics, Condensed Matter

    Abstract

    Copper indium telluride (CIT) is a promising semiconductor material for use in thin film solar cells, especially photoelectrochemical solar cells (PESC). Impedance measurements were used to evaluate the relative band edge positions of polycrystalline n-CuInTe2 electrodes in various aqueous electrolytes, by measuring the extrapolated flat-band potentials, V-fb.By varying applied dc potential, frequency and pH of the electrolyte, the semiconductor-electrolyte interfaces are studied through capacitance measurements and Mott-Schottky analysis. The flat-band potential and carrier concentrations were determined from the Mott-Schottky plots. It was found that V-fb could be shifted depending on the pH of the electrolyte, while it is independent of the testing frequency. The changes in V-fb with pH could be due to surface states and other modifications through etching and polishing. The surface carrier concentrations were found to increase with pH. The different surface chemistry studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy might account for this change. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Applied Surface Science

    Volume

    242

    Issue/Number

    1-2

    Publication Date

    1-1-2005

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    168

    Last Page

    176

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000227508400021

    ISSN

    0169-4332

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