Optimisation of deposition voltage of zirconium-doped chromium telluride via typical three-electrode cell electrochemical deposition technique

ABSTRACT

The electrochemical deposition approach has been used to successfully produce CrTe and Zr/CrTe materials. The surface morphology of the films has shown a stone-like micro-grain. When the deposition voltage rises to 14 V, the stone-like nano grain transforms into a white well-pack precipitate and spreads. The surface of the doped CrTe material displayed uniform nano-grain deposition. The films are polycrystalline with hexagonal phases. The film had two strong peaks: one at orientation (112), which corresponds to a 2theta value of 32.72°, and others at orientations (111), (112), (121), and (200), which correspond to 2theta values of 21.57°, 32.72°, 46.65°, and 60.58°. The crystal lattice is indicated by a peak intensity reduction that occurs at higher 2theta degree values; an unindexed peak results from the substrate utilised for the deposition. The energy bandgap of the synthesised Zr/CrTe created at different deposition voltages ranges from 1.15 to 1.43 eV, while its energy band gap of the pristine CrTe is 1.62 eV, demonstrating that the energy bandgap decreases as the voltage rises.

Graphical abstract

Research Highlight

• Electrochemical deposition-based synthesis of chromium telluride and zirconium-doped chromium telluride has been achieved.

• For the pristine CrTe, an energy bandgap of 1.62 eV was achieved and 1.15 to 1.43 eV for Zr/CrTe.

• The surface morphology of the films has shown a stone-like micro-grain.

• The films are polycrystalline with a hexagonal phase.

KEYWORDS:

• chromium
• zirconium
• doping
• bandgap
• deposition voltage

Data availability statement

The data supporting the study’s conclusions are available upon request from the corresponding author.

Ethical statement

The authors’ research and analysis are fully and accurately reflected in the publication.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author Statement

Ernest O. Ojegu, Shaka O. Samuel, and Imosobomeh L. Ikhioya: Conceptualization, methodology, experimentation, writing the original draft. Imosobomeh L. Ikhioya: re-writing original draft, Graphical work, and reference. Mike O. Osiele, Akpojotor E. Godfrey investigation and supervisions.

Additional information

Funding

For this research, the authors were not given any funding.