Electrodeposition of Copper, Selenium, Indium, and Gallium on Molybdenum/Surface Oxides: Unary, Binary, Ternary and Quaternary Compositions

A systematic investigation was performed to study the variation of cyclic voltammetry (CV) peaks during cathodic electrodeposition of unary, binary, ternary and quaternary compositions of copper (Cu), selenium (Se), indium (In) and gallium (Ga) on molybdenum/glass electrode. The major objective of the work was to methodically understand the variation of different oxidation-reduction peaks from unary to quaternary composition so that a comprehensible idea on their appearance could be arrived. The electrodeposits were further characterized by anodic stripping voltammetry and frequency response analyzer-impedance spectroscopy. Phase and microstructure of the electrodeposits were examined by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The results presented were helpful to arrive at new conclusions on the variation of different CV peaks such as Mo/surface oxide's-characteristic redox peak and In-characteristic oxidation peak. The present work will be of significance in different application areas like surface coatings, electronics and chalcopyrite solar cells, where electrodeposited Cu-Se-In-Ga is of importance.