Preparation and photocharacterization of Cu–Sb–Se films by electrodeposition technique

Ternary semiconductor Cu–Sb–Se films were grown on 304 stainless-steel/Cr and ITO-glass using a combination of electrodeposition and chemical bath techniques. The samples were annealed in a N2 atmosphere at various temperatures and characterized by X-ray, electron probe microanalysis, current–voltage, capacitance–voltage and photocurrent spectroscopy. Photoelectrochemical studies were used to determinate the flat-band potential and the doping density of the material. These data lead to energetic considerations on the applicability of the Cu–Sb–Se electrode in the photoelectrochemical decomposition of water.