Deposition of tellurium films by decomposition of electrochemically-generated H2Te: application to radiative cooling devices

The preparation of homogenous, large area thin layers of tellurium on thin polyethylene foils is described. The tellurium was formed by room temperatu re decomposition of electrochemically generated H2Te. Pre-treatment of the polyethylene substrates with KMnO4 to give a Mn-oxide layer was found to im prove the Te adhesion and homogeneity. Optical characterization of the laye rs was performed using UV/VIS/NIR spectroscopy. Such coatings have favorabl e characteristics for use as solar radiation shields in radiative cooling d evices. The simplicity of generation of the very unstable H2Te was also exp loited to demonstrate formation of size-quantized CdTe nanocrystals. (C) 20 00 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.