Semiconductors are an integral component of solar cells, converting solar energy into electricity. This research focuses on the studies of the photoactivity and stability of the semiconductor hybrid consisting of cadmium selenide and poly(o-methoxyaniline) (CdSe/POMA) composites deposited on gold, platinum, and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). The CdSe was electrochemically deposited for 20 cycles on the desired substrate from a solution of 5 mM CdSO4 and 1 mM SeO2 in 0.1 M HClO4 followed by the polymerization of POMA for 5 cycles from a 60 mM o-anisidine in 0.1 M HClO4 solution. The potential range for the CdSe deposition varied depending on the electrode surface: HOPG (0 V to -1.2 V), Pt (0.345 V to -1.1 V), and Au (0.4 V to -1.1 V) and the deposition potential range for POMA remained the same (-0.2 V to 0.8 V). The photoactivity of the obtained composites was studied in a 0.1 M Na2SO3 solution using open circuit potentiometry, cyclic voltammetry, and chronoamperometry. The Au/CdSe/POMA system displayed the largest maximum photo-potential of 406 mV compared to 390 mV for Pt/CdSe/POMA and 320 mV for HOPG/CdSe/POMA. Although the HOPG/CdSe/POMA system did not produce the largest maximum photo-potential, it presented a faster response stability than Pt/CdSe/POMA and Au/CdSe/POMA. The Pt/CdSe/POMA system had the greatest maximum photo-current density of 1347 µA/cm2 while Au/CdSe/POMA and HOPG/CdSe/POMA had smaller photo-current densities of 726 µA/cm2 and 242 µA/cm2, respectively. The surface morphology and composition of the composites before and after photo-studies were analyzed using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The HOPG/CdSe/POMA system degraded the least during photo exposure. XPS data suggest that the composition ratio of Cd:Se in the hybrid was closest to 1:1 in the HOPG/CdSe/POMA system suggesting that of the three electrode substrates, the CdSe/POMA composite on HOPG was optimal. When electrochemically depositing a hybrid, it is important to consider the deposition and dissolution potential ranges for each component of the hybrid with respect to the electrode substrate used. Taking this into account, HOPG is the optimal substrate for the deposition of the CdSe/POMA composite, which has a greater stability, smaller degree of degradation, and a composition ratio of Cd:Se closest to 1:1 compared to the other hybrids on Au and Pt.

Photoelectrochemical and surface studies of electrochemically grown CdSe-POMA composites on HOPG, Au, and Pt surfaces

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.