Synthesis, characterization, and photoelectrochemical study of Cd1-xZnxS solid solution thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis for water splitting

A series of Cd1-xZnxS thin films were deposited onto indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) coated glass substrates by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis CdCl2, ZnCl2, and CS(NH2)(2) aqueous solutions. The XRD patterns revealed that these films processed a wurtzite structure and a series of solid solutions of CdS and ZnS formed. The lattice constants decreased as the x value increased. From the transmittance and reflectance, the optical band gap was estimated to be between 2.45 eV and 3.72 eV, and the band gap increased as the x value increased according to a near linear relationship with the x value. The Mott-Schottky tests revealed that the flat potential shifted negatively as the x value increased. The photo responses agreed with the optical absorption of these films quite well. The current-potential measurements under chopped Xe lamp light irradiation show that the CdS deposited at 300 degrees C had best photoresponse. Its photoelectrochemical efficiency was estimated to be about 0.95% under 0.73 V bias from two electrodes current-potential tests. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Professor T. Nejat Veziroglu.