Monocrystalline CdTe thin films by electrochemical deposition from aprotic electrolytes

CdTe thin films have been deposited by an electrochemical technique from organic dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) solvent containing CdCl2 and elemental Te. Thus, deposited CdTe films are generally coherent, free of microcracks, and have large crystallites. Crystalline structure of CdTe films is found to depend on the deposition current density. Electron diffraction analysis shows that crystalline modification changes from polycrystalline hexagonal, mixed hexagonal-cubic to cubic containing excess Cd as the deposition current density increases from 0.25 to 1.0 mA . cm-2. Lower deposition currents yield monocrystalline CdTe films. Analysis of variations in the cathodic over-potentials with deposition current density indicates that the growth of monocrystalline CdTe is by initial formation of oriented nuclei which grow by surface diffusion of adions