Abstract:
This research focuses on the development of arduino-based cyclic voltammetry (CV) analyzer to
provide a low cost, accurate and special purpose analysis for semiconductors growth. Its primary
function is to obtain suitable potential range to deposit semiconductor materials. It was developed
using operational amplifiers arranged in different configurations. A potential staircase generator
circuit which uses a 12 bit digital-to-analogue converter supplies the scanned voltage to the
potentiostat circuit. The potentiostat controls the applied potential to a two electrode
electrochemical cell containing the semiconductor materials under investigation. A 4x4 matrix
keypad with switches and 20x4 liquid crystal display were used as the input and output devices
respectively. A 16-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADS1115) and arduino mega 2560 were used
to read and store the data on a micro secured digital card. The results obtained were used to plot
the cyclic voltammograms of zinc sulphide (ZnS), cadmium sulphide (CdS) and aluminum gallium
selenide (AlGaSe). The cyclic voltammogram of ZnS revealed potential range of ~1100 to 1600
mV which is the appropriate voltage range to grow ZnS thin films. For CdS, a suitable potential
range of 900 to 1500 mV was obtained to grow the thin films. This voltage range conforms to the
results reported in literature. The voltammogram of aluminum gallium selenide also revealed
suitable potential range of 11000 to1700 mV that can be explored to grow the thin films. The
developed instrument is cost effective, easy to use and maintain.
