H-2 Evolution from Water on Modified Cu2ZnSnS4 Photoelectrode under Solar Light

Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films were investigated as photoelectrodes for H-2 evolution from water under solar light. Surface modifications with Pt, CdS, and TiO2 enhanced the incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency of CZTS thin film electrode for H-2 production from water by three orders of magnitude to 40% (lambda = 600 nm). The solar energy conversion efficiency in H-2 production using modified CZTS reached 1.2%. Our results demonstrate that the photoelectrochemical properties of CZTS were significantly improved by surface modification, which suggests the feasibility of CZTS as a photocathode for a photoelectrochemical water-splitting system. (C) 2010 The Japan Society of Applied Physics