Growth from solution of CdTe films by conversion of chemically deposited cadmium oxide hydroxide films

Cadmium oxide hydroxide films were grown on glass substrates by the chemical bath deposition technique and subsequently converted to CdTe films by immersion in a stable alkaline aqueous solution containing Te ions. The chemical deposition of cadmium oxide hydroxide films was based on CdCl2 as the source of Cd ions and sodium citrate as the complexing agent. The solution containing Te ions was prepared employing hydroxymethane sulfinic acid as reducing agent. Both types of films were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results show that cadmium oxide hydroxide films are nanocrystalline with cubic structure and they were successfully converted by ionic exchange to crystalline CdTe films with cubic structure. 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.