In Situ Raman Microdroplet Spectroelectrochemical Investigation of CuSCN Electrodeposited on Different Substrates.
NANOMATERIALS 2021;
11:nano11051256. [PMID:
34064622 PMCID:
PMC8151883 DOI:
10.3390/nano11051256]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Systematic in situ Raman microdroplet spectroelectrochemical (Raman-μSEC) characterization of copper (I) thiocyanate (CuSCN) prepared using electrodeposition from aqueous solution on various substrates (carbon-based, F-doped SnO2) is presented. CuSCN is a promising solid p-type inorganic semiconductor used in perovskite solar cells as a hole-transporting material. SEM characterization reveals that the CuSCN layers are homogenous with a thickness of ca. 550 nm. Raman spectra of dry CuSCN layers show that the SCN− ion is predominantly bonded in the thiocyanate resonant form to copper through its S−end (Cu−S−C≡N). The double-layer capacitance of the CuSCN layers ranges from 0.3 mF/cm2 on the boron-doped diamond to 0.8 mF/cm2 on a glass-like carbon. In situ Raman-μSEC shows that, independently of the substrate type, all Raman vibrations from CuSCN and the substrate completely vanish in the potential range from 0 to −0.3 V vs. Ag/AgCl, caused by the formation of a passivation layer. At positive potentials (+0.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl), the bands corresponding to the CuSCN vibrations change their intensities compared to those in the as-prepared, dry layers. The changes concern mainly the Cu−SCN form, showing the dependence of the related vibrations on the substrate type and thus on the local environment modifying the delocalization on the Cu−S bond.
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