X-ray photoelectron and Auger electron spectroscopic analysis of surface treatments and electrochemical decomposition of CuInSe/sub 2/ photoelectrodes

Journal Article · Wed May 15 00:00:00 EDT 1985 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.335341· OSTI ID:6042591

Cahen, D; Ireland, P J; Kazmerski, L L; Thiel, F A

CuInSe/sub 2/ photoanodes can be optimized for use in electrochemical photovoltaic cells, containing aqueous polyiodide as the electrolyte, by wet chemical etching in Br/sub 2/MeOH and subsequent thermal treatment (air oxidation). Surface analyses show the formation of a rather clean, Cu-depleted surface with some adsorbed oxygen after Br/sub 2//MeOH etch, and the formation of indium-oxygen bonds after thermal treatment, in accordance with previous studies that show indium oxides to be the native ones on this semiconductor. Samples that underwent photoanodic decomposition in the iodide electrolyte and those that were purposely decomposed in acetonitrile showed severe to near-total Cu depletion near their surface and the presence of lower valent Se. These data complement those from solution analyses and from electrochemical studies, to characterize the preferred decomposition path of CuInSe/sub 2/ sufficiently to stabilize this type of photoelectrochemical cell. Our conclusions are based on the use of Auger parameters and, to a lesser extent, on empirical comparison of x-ray induced Auger electron line shapes, because of the difficulty in extracting unambiguous conclusions from x-ray photoelectron binding energies only.

• Research Organization: Solar Energy Research Institute, Golden, Colorado 80401
• OSTI ID: 6042591
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 57:10; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140505* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photochemical
Photobiological
& Thermochemical Conversion-- (1980-)
ADSORPTION
ANODES
AUGER ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
CATHODES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
COPPER COMPOUNDS
COPPER SELENIDES
DECOMPOSITION
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELECTRODES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
EQUIPMENT
ETCHING
INDIUM COMPOUNDS
INDIUM SELENIDES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
OPTIMIZATION
OXIDATION
PHOTOANODES
PHOTOCATHODES
PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
RADIATIONS
SELENIDES
SELENIUM COMPOUNDS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SORPTION
SPECTROSCOPY
SURFACE FINISHING
SURFACE TREATMENTS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
X RADIATION