Photosensitization of nanocrystalline TiO2 film electrode with cadmium sulphoselenide

Abstract Nanocrystalline titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) thin films composed of densely packed nanometer-sized grains have been successfully deposited onto an indium-doped-tin oxide (ITO) substrate. Then cadmium sulphoselenide (CdSSe) thin film was deposited onto pre-deposited TiO 2 to form a TiO 2 /CdSSe film, at low temperature using a simple and inexpensive chemical method. The X-ray diffraction, selected area electron diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and water contact angle techniques were used for film characterization. Purely rutile phase of TiO 2 with super-hydrophilic and densely packed nanometer-sized spherical grains of approximate diameter 30–40 (±2) nm was observed. The increase in optical absorption was observed after CdSSe film deposition. Nest like surface morphology of CdSSe on TiO 2 surface results in air trapping in the crevices which prevents water from adhering to the film with increase in water contact angle. Photosensitization of TiO 2 with CdSSe was confirmed with light illumination intensity of 80 mW/cm 2 .