PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL-BASED ON CADMIUM-SULFIDE SPRAYED FILM AND ELECTROLYTIC POLY(3-METHYLTHIOPHENE) - SOLVENT NATURE EFFECT

The electropolymerization of 3-methylthiophene into poly(3-methylthiop hene) or PMeT, on Al doped cadmium sulfide films allows a Schottky typ e junction to be formed whose rectification quality and photovoltaic r esponse depend upon the electropolymerization parameters. Among these, the solvent nature plays a determining role. In the case of propylene carbonate (PC), the dark saturation current, I(s), of the CdS(Al): PM eT junction is about five times smaller than that obtained in the case of acetonitrile (MeCN). This indicates that the barrier height was mo dified, a result which was confirmed by impedance measurements. The ba rrier height variation is responsible for the dependence of the photov oltaic parameters of the CdS(Al): PMeT junction upon the nature of sol vent which is used for the synthesis.