Issue 9, 2018

Powder-based (CuGa1−yIny)1−xZn2xS2 solid solution photocathodes with a largely positive onset potential for solar water splitting

Abstract

Photoelectrochemical water splitting has attracted much attention in recent years as an alternative energy source. However, there have been several significant issues such as low efficiency, high cost and less scalability for its practical application. Here, we show that (CuGa1−yIny)1−xZn2xS2 (CGIZS)-based photocathodes fabricated with a particle transfer method exhibited a photocurrent of 4.5 mA cm−2 at 0.6 V vs. RHE along with a largely positive onset potential of 1.0 V vs. RHE under simulated sunlight (AM 1.5G) and an initial solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency of 1.1% was obtained with photoelectrochemical water splitting using a two-electrode cell composed of the CGIZS-based photocathode and a BiVO4-based photoanode. CGIZS used for the particle transfer method was obtained in a powder state with high crystallinity by a flux method using a molten-salt of LiCl–KCl, and also formed solid solutions with a chalcopyrite single phase structure in a wide range of Ga/In ratios and Zn contents, in which the absorption edges of photocatalysts were tunable up to 880 nm.

Graphical abstract: Powder-based (CuGa1−yIny)1−xZn2xS2 solid solution photocathodes with a largely positive onset potential for solar water splitting

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
21 feb 2018
Accepted
22 mar 2018
First published
23 mar 2018

Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2018,2, 2016-2024

Powder-based (CuGa1−yIny)1−xZn2xS2 solid solution photocathodes with a largely positive onset potential for solar water splitting

T. Hayashi, R. Niishiro, H. Ishihara, M. Yamaguchi, Q. Jia, Y. Kuang, T. Higashi, A. Iwase, T. Minegishi, T. Yamada, K. Domen and A. Kudo, Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2018, 2, 2016 DOI: 10.1039/C8SE00079D

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