Investigation of the influence for S-ions incorporated into the Ag2ZnSnSe4 photoelectrodes on their light-enhanced activities in aqueous salt-water solution

• Published in: Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers Vol. 156; p. 105250
• Main Authors: Feng, Yu-Hsuan, Lu, Yu-Han, Lin, Yu-Peng, Cheng, Kong-Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.03.2024
• Subjects: AZTSe sample; PEC activity; S-ions incorporating; Salt-water splitting; S-ions incorporating; Salt-water splitting; PEC activity; AZTSe sample
• ISSN: 1876-1070; 1876-1089
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jtice.2023.105250

•S-incorporated Ag2ZnSnSe4 samples with various ratios of S-ions were prepared.•Coexistence of plate-like and irregular microstructures was observed for samples.•Pristine Ag2ZnSnSe4 sample showed high ratio of photo-corrosion reaction.•Photo-corrosion reaction was reduced for AZTSe sample with S-ions incorporating.•S-incorporated Ag2ZnSnSe4 sample with [S]/[S+Se] ratio of 7% had good stability. Large-scale application in solar salt-water splitting is an important way to reduce the influence of environmental problem without any decrease in the usage of energy. To develop the photoelectrochemical (PEC) salt-water splitting is thus a promising way for further industrial application. The Ag2ZnSnSe4 (AZTSe) and their S-ions incorporating samples were produced by the post selenization/sulfurization of Ag/Sn/Zn sandwich metal precursors with the suitable amount of sulfur + selenium powder mixtures at 410 ℃ for 90 min under nitrogen atmosphere. The PEC tests using samples as photoelectrode were then carried out. The maximum light-enhanced activity of pristine AZTSe and their S-ions incorporated samples was 3.65 and 2.37 mA/cm2 as the applied voltage of 1.23 V vs. RHE (relative hydrogen electrode) in a 0.5 M sodium chloride electrolyte, respectively. Electrochemical impedance and intensity-modulated photocurrent spectra of samples represented that the S-ions incorporated into AZTSe sample could reduce the photo-corrosion reaction on sample surface because of the decrease in the number of light-induced holes occupied on sample surface. Our report proposed the systemic evaluation on the influence of S-ions incorporated into AZTSe sample for light-enhanced salt-water splitting. [Display omitted]