ELECTRODEPOSITION OF ZINC SELENIDE

The synthesis of polycrystalline thin films of cubic ZnSe by electroch emical plating on conducting substrates is described. The influence of deposition parameters such as electrolyte composition, deposition pot ential and temperature on the crystallinity and on the chemical compos ition of the films is discussed. Of the various plating techniques (po tentiostatic, potentiodynamic pulse and galvanostatic), potentiostatic plating offers the best control of film composition. An excess of Se with respect to perfect stoichiometry cannot be avoided by adjusting e lectrolyte composition and deposition potential, but can be decreased by vacuum annealing.