A study of electrodeposition of CuInSe2 thin films with triethanolamine as the complexing agent

In this article, the electrochemistry of CuInSe2 and its compositional ingredients CuCl2, InCl3 and SeO2 in aqueous solution were investigated. Triethanolamine was added in the single-step electrodeposition of CuInSe2 from aqueous solution as the complexing agent in order to improve the crystallinity and uniformity of the layer. The stoichiometry, crystal structure and grain sizes of CuInSe2 thin films of various deposition conditions were compared. The deposition parameters such as the concentration of complexing agent, deposition potential, deposition time and annealing temperature are found to be important factors in the processes of electrical deposition of CuInSe2 thin films.