Copper sulfide nanorods grown at room temperature for photovoltaic application

Copper sulfide nanorods with various diameters and lengths were obtained by the electrodeposition method. Electrodeposition time can be used to control the diameter of the nanorods within the range of 30–35 nm. Electrodeposited copper sulfide thin films are grown at room temperature. Their structural, morphological, optical properties, chemical composition and Raman laser spectrum are studied. The room temperature films are utilized as a photocathode in photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell in 0.25 M polysulfide electrolyte. The experimental results show that, the electrodeposited thin films allow formation of light absorber, photosensitive, covellite copper sulfide.

Graphical abstractCopper sulfide nanorods with various diameters and lengths were obtained by electrodeposition. The electrodeposition time can be used to control the diameter of the electrodeposited nanorods to within the range of 30–35 nm. The room temperature films are utilized as a photocathode in photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell in 0.25 M polysulfide electrolyte. The current paper incorporates with a cheapest electrodeposition method to grow copper sulfide nanorods at room temperature on stainless steel and ITO glass substrates.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Electrodeposition and X-ray study of copper sulfide (CuS) thin films showed that they are polycrystalline in nature. ► Synthesizes of CuS nanorods like morphology. ► Novel surface morphology by electrodeposition at room temperature. ► Optical band gap changes from 2.05 eV to 2.63 eV. ► PEC performance can motivate to check its feasibility in DSSC's devices with .69% efficiency.