PbTe electrodeposition studied by combined electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance and cyclic voltammetry

Electrodeposition of PbTe thin films from alkaline solutions, and the elect rochemical behavior of the related precursors TeO32- and PbEDTA(2-), were s tudied for the first time by means of an electrochemical quartz crystal mic robalance (EQCM) combined with cyclic voltammetry. PbTe was found to form b y an induced codeposition mechanism via six electron reduction. The reducti on mechanism of Te was complicated and sensitive to the substrate surface. On the other hand, the reduction of the PbEDTA(2-) complex to Pb-0 was a si mple two electron reaction. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reser ved.