Synthesis, characterization and surface deformation study of nanocrystalline Ag2Se thin films

Herein we report electrochemical synthesis of the silver selenide (Ag₂Se) thin films using simple and economical electrodeposition method in potentiostatic mode at room temperature (∼ 27 °C). Growth of rhombohedral Ag₂Se nanocrystals having size 63 to 75 nm were observed in (201) direction. Band gap energy of Ag₂Se decreased from 1.3 eV to 1.1 eV and contact angle increases from 58° to 74° with increase in bath concentration from 3 to 5 mM. A possible mechanism for the growth and stress of compact granular Ag₂Se nanocrystals is discussed with DEHI technique. Compared with previous methods, present method shows simple and easiest way to synthesize nanosized Ag₂Se particles in one step.