Photoelectronic properties of CdTe-electrolyte heterojunctions: Feasibility as solar energy converters

We show that cadmium telluride is a promising material for semiconductor-electrolyte solar cells. Polycrystalline n-type CdTe, in contact with an aqueous solution of SnCl2, forms a well-defined Schottky barrier. The efficiency in sunlight is 4.8%. The cell shows a drift of characteristics with time that may be associated with a low rate of formation of hydroxide on the surface. However, operating stability is relatively good compared with other semiconductor-electrolyte cells that have been reported in the past.