Dependence of the sprayed CdS photoelectrode behavior upon the pyrolysis atmosphere

In dark conditions as well in light, the behavior of CdS films sprayed under the same conditions varies with the atmosphere used during the process of pyrolysis. The study of the current-voltage (J-E) characteristics, drawn from a CdS/(Sx-2/S-2) liquid Schottky barrier reveals some changes in the potential value related to the onset dark-current. Analysis of the film's photoresponse shows that a specific behavior of the photocurrent Jp parameter plotted against E is obtained with each the pyrolyzed samples. The film composition and its surface texture appear to provide the most likely explanation for this phenomenon. Regenerative cell made of CdS photoanode is highly efficient with N2-treated samples. The lower power conversion corresponds to films pyrolyzed in He atmosphere. The use of H2 as described in this paper, leads to an interfacial instability