Fabrication of ZnSe Thin Solid Films on the Cu Substrate and Investigation of Electrochemical, Adhesion and Solar Cell Properties by a New Technique

Zinc selenide has applications in the fabrication of low-cost solar cells and optoelectronic devices. Due to its optical properties and large direct bandgap, ZnSe was used in solar cells as a window layer alternative with the CdS layer. In this research, zinc selenide thin films were electrodeposited in an electrochemical cell of two electrodes, on the copper substrate from the solutions containing zinc sulfate and selenium dioxide. The effect of electrodeposition parameters on the adhesion, electrochemical and photovoltaic properties of the fabricated solar cells were studied. Tafel polarization and EIS tests were used to evaluate the electrochemical properties. FE_SEM, EDAX, XRD tests were used to study the structural properties, Rockwell C test was used to determine the adhesion of the thin film and Solar light simulation test was used to study the photovoltaic properties of the solar cells. The Tafel polarization test results showed that increasing the deposition potential from –0.1 to +0.3 V leads to an increase in the corrosion potential from –0.486 to –0.206 V. Sunlight simulation tests have shown that increasing the applied potential from –0.1 to +0.2 V results in an increase in %ɳ from 4.08 to 7.31%. Increasing the applied potential of more than +0.2 V has resulted in a reduction in %η, V oc , and I sc .