Electrochemical Synthesis and Photovoltaic Effect of Copper Sulfides on CdS Single Crystals

Abstract

Copper-sulfide layer is electrochemically produced on CdS single crystals in copper ion solution with various bias current densities. The compositions and structures of the copper sulfides are determined by means of the X-ray powder and single crystal methods. The phases of the copper sulfides formed on CdS crystals change not only by the bias electric current density but also by the temperature of solution. On examining the photovoltaic effects for all combinations of the copper sulfides and CdS, it is shown that the best combination for the solar cell is the Cu₂S-CdS pair.