H₂Evolution from Water on Modified Cu₂ZnSnS₄Photoelectrode under Solar Light

Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films were investigated as photoelectrodes for H2 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 H2 production from water by three orders of magnitude to 40% (λ= 600 nm). The solar energy conversion efficiency in H2 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.