Hydrogen evolution from water using Ag(x)Cu(1-x)GaSe2 photocathodes under visible light.

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting using CuGaSe2 (CGSe) thin film photocathodes modified by partial substitution of Cu with Ag was investigated. The AgxCu1-xGaSe2 (ACGSe) thin films were deposited onto Mo-coated soda-lime glass substrates by means of co-evaporation using a molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) system. The valence band maximum (VBM) potential of ACGSe is deeper than that of CGSe, and its grain size is greatly increased compared to that of CGSe. A Pt and CdS modified ACGSe electrode (Pt/CdS/ACGSe) with a Ag/(Cu + Ag) ratio of about 5% showed a cathodic photocurrent of 8.1 mA cm(-2) at 0 VRHE and an onset potential of 0.70 VRHE (defined as a cathodic photocurrent of 0.05 mA cm(-2)) under simulated sunlight in a 0.1 M Na2SO4 solution (pH 9.5). Moreover, Pt/CdS/ACGSe exhibited a stable cathodic photocurrent for over 55 h, with no clear decrease.