Preparation and Characterization of AgSbSe₂Thin Films by Electrodeposition

Abstract

Silver antimony selenide thin films have been prepared by potentiostatical electrodeposition from an aqueous solution followed by rapid thermal annealing. The electrodeposition mechanism was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) test. The most suitable deposition potential for film preparation was determined to be −0.50 V vs. SCE combining with CV, composition and morphology studies. The as-deposited films are amorphous in nature and the amorphous-to-crystalline transition can be obtained by annealing treatment at 300°C. The compositional, morphological, structural and optical properties of the prepared films were studied via energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, environmental scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and optical absorption tests, respectively. AgSbSe2 thin films with homogeneous morphology and near stoichimetric composition can be obtained. The AgSbSe2 film with cubic structure exhibits high absorption coefficient in the order of 105 cm−1, an optical bandgap of 1.18 eV and good photoelectric property.