Electrodeposition of thin film semiconductors

A survey of thin film electrodeposited elemental alloy and compound semiconductors is given. The theoretical aspects of the electrodeposition of elemental and binary semiconductors are discussed by considering the Nernst equation and Pourbaix (potential-pH) diagrams. The elemental, binary, and ternary semiconductors together with their electrodeposition and physical and chemical properties are described. The applications of electrodeposited semiconductors in solid state solar cells and photoelectrochemical cells are presented and their solar conversion efficiencies are reported. It can be concluded that the preparation of thin film semiconductors with the electrodeposition technique possesses many advantages. The properties of electrodeposited semiconductors are comparable with those of semiconductors prepared by other methods 95 refs