Kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 thin-film solar water-splitting photovoltaics for solar seawater desalination

Lintao Li; Chenyang Wang; Kuang Feng; Dingwang Huang; Kang Wang; Yan Li; Feng Jiang

Cell Reports Physical Science (Jun 2021)

Kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 thin-film solar water-splitting photovoltaics for solar seawater desalination

Lintao Li,
Chenyang Wang,
Kuang Feng,
Dingwang Huang,
Kang Wang,
Yan Li,
Feng Jiang

Affiliations

Lintao Li: Institute of Semiconductor Science and Technology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, P.R. China
Chenyang Wang: Institute of Semiconductor Science and Technology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, P.R. China
Kuang Feng: Institute of Semiconductor Science and Technology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, P.R. China
Dingwang Huang: Institute of Semiconductor Science and Technology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, P.R. China
Kang Wang: Institute of Semiconductor Science and Technology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, P.R. China
Yan Li: Institute of Semiconductor Science and Technology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, P.R. China
Feng Jiang: Institute of Semiconductor Science and Technology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, P.R. China; SCNU Qingyuan Institute of Science and Technology Innovation Co., Ltd., Qingyuan 511517, China; Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Low Carbon and Advanced Energy Materials, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China; Corresponding author

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 2, no. 6
p. 100468

Abstract

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Summary: Kesterite photovoltaic materials of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films present excellent photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties in solar water-splitting devices. It is found that photoelectrodes, including CZTS for solar water splitting, are suitable for application in solar seawater desalination due to the similarity of their operation principle and work conditions to photoelectrodes/solutions. Here we report the application of a CZTS-based photocathode from solar water splitting to solar seawater desalination. With the TiO2 surface modification layer, the CZTS-based photocathode shows superior stability in the progress of seawater desalination and maintains desalination performance above 95% after testing for almost 500 h. Moreover, the device driven by solar energy does not require an additional electrical supply. The combination of redox flow and ion exchange membrane (IEM) for seawater desalination is a highly efficient and promising water treatment technique that can effectively alleviate the shortage of freshwater resources.

Published in Cell Reports Physical Science

ISSN: 2666-3864 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Science: Physics
Website: https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-physical-science

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