Growth and structure of CuIn7Se11 single crystals and H2O/CuIn7Se11 photoelectrochemical cells

Single crystals of CuIn7Se11 ternary compound have been grown by directional crystallization of the melt at first time. The composition of the obtained single crystals was determined by electron probe X-ray microanalysis, X-ray method was used to determine their structure. It was established that the grown crystals are crystallized in hexagonal structure. H2O/CuIn7Se11 photoelectrochemical cells have been created on the given crystals at first time. The photosensitivity spectra from which the character of interband transitions and band gap values have been determined have been investigated. The created photoelectrochemical cells can be utilized as wide-band photoconvertors of an optical radiation. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)