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Kamble A, Sinha B, Agawane G, Vanalakar S, Kim IY, Kim JY, Kale SS, Patil P, Kim JH. Sulfur ion concentration dependent morphological evolution of CdS thin films and its subsequent effect on photo-electrochemical performance. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2016; 18:28024-28032. [PMID: 27711371 DOI: 10.1039/c6cp00903d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The sulfur ion concentration dependent morphological evolution and its subsequent effect on photo-electrochemical properties of chemically synthesized CdS thin films have been systematically investigated. The plausible growth mechanism for the morphological evolution of CdS thin films due to a change in sulfur ion concentration has been proposed. Scanning electron micrographs (SEMs) reveal that the morphology of CdS thin films has been changed from spherical grains to vertically aligned nanoflakes by systematic control of sulfur ion concentration. This article elucidates the astute relationships between precursor concentrations, reaction rate and morphological evolution. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns reveal the formation of hexagonal wurtzite CdS thin films with the preferred (002) orientation for CdS nanoflakes, which is further supported by the analysis of the high resolution transmission electron micrographs (HRTEMs). Optical absorption studies show a red shift in the absorption edge with an increase in sulfur concentration. The beneficial role of nanoflake formation is easily reflected in the photo-electrochemical performance. Improved solar cell performances are observed for CdS nanoflakes grown with a sulfur to cadmium ion concentration ratio of 4 (S : Cd = 4).
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Kamble
- Departments of Materials Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500-757, South Korea. and GMD Arts, BW Commerce and Science College, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Sinnar, Nashik, Maharashtra, India
| | - Bhavesh Sinha
- National Centre for Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, University of Mumbai, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
| | - Ganesh Agawane
- Ultra-Precision Optics Research Center, Korea Photonics Technology Institute (KOPTI), Gwangju 500-779, South Korea
| | - Sharad Vanalakar
- Departments of Materials Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500-757, South Korea.
| | - In Young Kim
- Departments of Materials Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500-757, South Korea.
| | - Jin Young Kim
- GMD Arts, BW Commerce and Science College, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Sinnar, Nashik, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sampat S Kale
- GMD Arts, BW Commerce and Science College, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Sinnar, Nashik, Maharashtra, India
| | - Pramod Patil
- Thin Film Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Shivaji University, Kolhapur-416004, M.S., India.
| | - Jin Hyeok Kim
- Departments of Materials Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500-757, South Korea.
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