Towards efficient solar-to-hydrogen conversion: Fundamentals and recent progress in copper-based chalcogenide photocathodes

Abstract

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting for hydrogen generation has been considered as a promising route to convert and store solar energy into chemical fuels. In terms of its large-scale application, seeking semiconductor photoelectrodes with high efficiency and good stability should be essential. Although an enormous number of materials have been explored for solar water splitting in the last several decades, challenges still remain for the practical application. P-type copper-based chalcogenides, such as Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 and Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 , have shown impressive performance in photovoltaics due to narrow bandgaps, high absorption coefficients, and good carrier transport properties. The obtained high efficiencies in photovoltaics have promoted the utilization of these materials into the field of PEC water splitting. A comprehensive review on copper-based chalcogenides for solar-to-hydrogen conversion would help advance the research in this expanding area. This review will cover the physicochemical properties of copper-based chalcogenides, developments of various photocathodes, strategies to enhance the PEC activity and stability, introductions of tandem PEC cells, and finally, prospects on their potential for the practical solar-to-hydrogen conversion. We believe this review article can provide some insights of fundamentals and applications of copper-based chalcogenide thin films for PEC water splitting.

Composition-Dependent Catalytic Activities of Noble-Metal-Free NiS/Ni3S4 for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

“…Electrocatalytic and photocatalytic hydrogen generation from water are promising schemes for sustainable hydrogen generation. [1][2][3][4][5][6] The key issue of these techniques is to develop highly efficient and low-cost hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts. Noble metals (e.g., Pt) are commonly examined HER catalysts at present.…”

Photocatalytic Activities of Copper Doped Cadmium Sulfide Microspheres Prepared by a Facile Ultrasonic Spray-Pyrolysis Method

“…Photocatalytic water splitting has continuously been a hot academic topic since Fujishima and Honda′s work in hydrogen production from water using a TiO 2 electrode [1]. Over the past decades, metal sulfides [2] and chalcogenides [3] have attracted broad interest from scientists engaged in photocatalysis. Of those compounds, cadmium sulfide (CdS) is an attractive semiconductor photocatalyst under continuous research due to its optimal band gap and suitable position of the conduction band and valence band edge [4,5,6].…”

Synthesis of 2D-CZTS nanoplate as photocathode material for efficient PEC water splitting

“…Hydrogen (H2) is a clean fuel and it emits water upon utilization and it does not emit greenhouse gases, free from air pollution [3]. With the existing production mechanisms, cost and the under-developed technology, utilization of hydrogen fuel has many practical difficulties.…”