Cyclic electrodeposition of PbS thin films

Deposition of lead sulfide thin films has been carried out from an aqueous solution using a novel electrochemical method which includes alternate anodic and cathodic, reactions. Na2S and Pb(CH3COO)(2) complexed with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid were used as precursors. During the deposition the substrate potential was continuously cycled between two potentials. At the cathodic potential elemental Pb was deposited and at the anodic potential it was reoxidized and reacted with sulfide forming a PbS film. From basic solutions at pH 8.5, PbS films were deposited only with the cyclic method, but with acidic solutions at pH 5 also the conventional constant potential method could be used. The films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, elastic recoil detection analysis, deuteron induced reactions, and profilometry. The electrodeposited PbS films were stoichiometric and crystalline, having nontextured rock salt cubic structure. (C) 1999 The Electrochemical Society. S0013-4651(98)09-029-6. All rights reserved.