Photochemical deposition of Se and CdSe films from aqueous solutions

Elemental Se and CdSe were successfully deposited by the photochemical deposition (PCD) technique. The substrate was held in an aqueous solution and was irradiated with a mercury lamp. The deposition solution for Se contained Na2SeO3 and Na2SO3. The deposited films were characterized by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The deposited elemental Se was amorphous and crystallized by annealing at 200 degreesC. A CdSe film was also deposited from a solution containing Cd2+ ions. Its composition was almost stoichiometric. In those PCD processes, sulfite ions acted as a reductant under UV irradiation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.