LAUSR

Abstract Photoelectrochemical cells with semiconductor photoelectrodes for water splitting have attracted increased interest in the field of solar energy, which requires suitable photoelectrode materials with excellent electrical properties and a visible light response. In this article, BiCuSeO thin films were obtained by evaporating CuBi precursors followed by a selenization treatment. The annealing temperatures (350 - 475°C) and oxygen concentrations (0 - 33%) were optimized to obtain high-quality thin films. A great number of thin flakes were found on the surface of the optimized films, which could benefit the catalyst application. The optical absorption measurement indicated a high absorption coefficient for BiCuSeO thin films in the 300 nm to 700 nm range. Photoelectrochemical analyses of BiCuSeO thin films showed that a large photocurrent density of 10 mA/cm2 was achieved at a relatively low bias, −0.55 V, versus reversible hydrogen electrode, significant for a strong photoresponse for BiCuSeO thin films exhibiting flakes on the surface. These results indicate that BiCuSeO is a potential material for photocatalyst applications.