HYBRID ORGANIC-INORGANIC PHOTOVOLTAIC JUNCTIONS - CASE OF THE ALL THIN-FILM CDSE POLY(3-METHYLTHIOPHENE) JUNCTION/

The electrodeposition of poly-3(methylthiophene) (PMeT) on polycrystal line CdSe layers deposited by chemical bath deposition (CBD) on indium tin oxide (ITO) glass was rendered possible thanks to an electrochemi cal pretreatment consisting in polarizing the ITO surface at a potenti al lying in the underpotential region (upd region) of the Cd2+/Cd coup le. The pretreatment is thought to cover the ITO surface with Cd adato ms which create nucleation centers for the growth of the CdSe layer, t hus enhancing its adherence and permitting the PMeT electrochemical de position without mechanical destruction of the CdSe film by the liquid electrolyte. The hybrid organic-inorganic CdSe/PMeT non-optimized jun ction so obtained exhibited a photovoltaic behaviour with an energy co nversion efficiency, under 56 mW cm(-2) white light from a xenon lamp, of 1.3%, uncorrected for light losses by absorption when shined throu gh pyrex glass/ITO bulk materials. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.