Electrochemical and photoelectrochemical characterization of SnS photoabsorber films. (February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kois, Julia; Bereznev, Sergei; Maricheva, Jelena; Revathi, Naidu
• Is Part Of: Materials science in semiconductor processing. Volume 58(2016)
• Page Start: 76
• Page End: 81
• Publication Date: 2017-02
• Subjects: Tin sulfide -- Photoelectrochemical characterization -- Electrochemical treatment -- Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy -- Photovoltaic; Semiconductors -- Periodicals; Integrated circuits -- Materials -- Periodicals; Semiconducteurs -- Périodiques; Circuits intégrés -- Matériaux -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 621.38152
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mssp.2016.10.036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-8001

Abstract

Abstract: A comparative study on the electrochemical and photoelectrochemical behavior of SnS thin-film electrode in acidic media was carried out to investigate the SnS-electrolyte interface reactions. The cycling voltammetry examinations were performed to characterize the oxidation and reduction reactions during electrochemical decomposition of the SnS layer in a background solution of 0.1 M H2 SO4 . It was observed the presence of passivating oxide-hydroxide layers on the surface on SnS films and studied dynamics of its formation. The corresponding interface reactions were discussed in details and compared with state-of-the-art in similar researches. Photoelectrochemical measurements show that the decrease of photoactivity of SnS is caused mainly by tin hydroxide ultra-thin layer formation on the SnS surface. On the other hand, after electrochemical reduction of the passivating hydroxide layer the photoactyvity increase is observed e.g. electrochemical oxidation at +1200 mV vs. SCE forms on the surface of SnS ultra-thin SnO layer and increases photoactivity almost 4 times. In this paper, special attention is paid to modification of SnS photoabsorber interface by the electrochemical treatment.