Morphological control and characterization of CdTe microstructure arrays synthesized by one-step electrodeposition

Without templates and any addition of surfactants, cadmium telluride (CdTe) microstructures with various novel morphologies were fabricated by one-step electrodeposition in the acid system during the deposition potential range from −0.65 V to −0.50 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The structures and properties of the as-synthesized films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and photoelectrochemical measurements. XRD pattern revealed that the high-purity CdTe films were cubic phase and exhibited the preferential orientation along (1 1 1) direction. The SEM indicated that by varying the deposition potential, we can obtain CdTe structure arrays with different morphologies evolution from microrod arrays to highly ordered flower-like structures. In addition, based on the better optical and photoelectrochemical performances, these CdTe microstructures would be potentially applied for substrate configuration photovoltaic device applications.