On the Mechanism of the Cathodic Electrodeposition of Cadmium Telluride

Abstract

The cathodic electrodeposition of cadmium telluride from aqueous solutions has been studied by cyclic voltammetry and potential step techniques at stationary and rotating electrodes. A new theoretical model of the deposition process has been proposed for the case where the substrate is completely covered with . It is based on the assumption that Cd atoms are only incorporated at Te sites and Te atoms at Cd sites. As a consequence, deposition rates are determined by surface coverage terms as well as by charge and mass transfer. Unusual nonsteady state effects have been observed during perturbation of the electrode potential or mass‐transfer rate. These effects have been explained successfully by the theory in terms of the relaxation of surface adatom coverages.