Synthesis of Zn:Cu2O Thin Films Using a Single Step Electrodeposition for Photovoltaic Applications

Zinc-doped cuprous oxide (Zn:Cu2O) thin films have been prepared via single step electrodeposition from an aqueous solution containing sodium perchlorate. The Zn/Cu molar ratio in the Zn:Cu2O films can be tuned between 0.006 and 0.236 by adjusting the magnitude of the applied potential and the sodium perchlorate concentration. Electrical characterization reveals that zinc dopants increase the Fermi level in Zn:Cu2O films, enabling a 3-fold improvement in the power conversion efficiency of a fully electrodeposited Cu2O homojunction photovoltaic device.