Abstract
Cathodic electrodeposition of CdTe films was studied using aqueous ammonia‐alkaline electrolytic baths (pH 10.7; temperature 343 K) in which Cd(II) and Te(IV) species were dissolved to form and ions, respectively. From the solution, , a flat and smooth polycrystalline CdTe film (thickness, ca. 1 μm) with nearly stoichiometric composition was deposited at a constant cathode potential, ranging from −0.70 to −0.30 V vs. SHE, whereas dendrite CdTe accompanying elemental cadmium was obtained at −0.80 V. The deposition behavior was fully explained by an underpotential deposition mechanism taking the calculated redox potentials of and pairs into consideration. During electrodeposition of nearly stoichiometric crystalline CdTe, the current density was decreasing monotonously. © 1999 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.