Electrodeposition of Metal Oxides for Solar Cell Applications

Abstract

This thesis investigates the electrodeposition process of zinc-, copper-, silver-, and silver copperoxides at cathodic and anodic voltages. Silver copper oxide has been successfully electrodepositedon a substrate of PtSi from a pH 12 dilute solution of copper nitrate, silver nitrate and sodiumhydroxide at 0.9V vs a silver metal cathode. This film was confirmed to be polycrystalline AgCuO2by EDS and XRD studies. Zinc oxide and copper oxide were deposited on gold substrates from their respective nitrates. The zinc oxide deposition was confirmed polycrystalline in XRD and had a band gap between 3.2eV and 3.5eV measured by optical reflectance. The copper oxide appeared polycrystalline in SEM but only amorphous signal was achieved in XRD, the material had a band gap of around 2eV. Despite many attempts, clean silver oxide was not successfully deposited. These materials may all be suitable for solar cells applications.