Electrodeposition of pyrite(FeS2) thin films for photovoltaic cells

Electrodeposition of iron and sulfur from an aqueous solution was studied as a method for pyrite (FeS2) thin-film preparation. By using FeSO4 and Na2S2O3 as source materials, co-deposition of iron and sulfur was attained. Although the S/Fe ratio in deposited films were ∼1, stoichiometric pyrite thin films were successfully formed by the post annealing at around 500°C in a sulfur atmosphere.