Photoelectrochemical hydrogen production on Cu2ZnSnS4/Mo-mesh thin-film electrodes prepared by electroplating

P-type Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin film was deposited on Mo-mesh substrate by sulfurization of electroplated Zn/Sn/Cu/Mo-mesh precursor. A photoelectrochemical water splitting reaction was investigated using a three-electrode reaction system composed of a Pt/CdS/CZTS/Mo-mesh, Pt wire, and Ag/AgCl as the working, counter, and reference electrodes, respectively, in an electrolyte solution containing Na2SO4 and NaOH. Scanning electron microscopy results indicated that the surface morphology of the CZTS could be changed by changing the pH of the Zn electroplating solution. At a pH of 9, an irregular hollow-column-type CZTS was formed, resulting in the highest CZTS electrode photocurrent observed in this study. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.