Synthesis of cadmium and zinc semiconductor compounds from an ionic liquid containing choline chloride and urea

A eutectic mixture of choline chloride and urea (commercially known as Reline) has been used as a medium from which CdS, CdSe, and ZnS thin films have been electrodeposited for the first time. Reline is a conductive room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) with a wide electrochemical window, which is suitable for use as a medium for electrodeposition. The voltammetric behaviour of the Reline-Cd(II)–sulfur system has been investigated. Thin films of CdS deposited at constant potential were characterized by photocurrent and electrolyte electroabsorbance spectroscopies. Thin films of CdSe and ZnS have also been prepared, and their photocurrent excitation spectra have been measured.