A focused review on emerging trends in antimony chalcogenide based photocathodes for green hydrogen production

Abstract

Over the past decade, extensive research has been devoted in developing cost-effective, robust, and efficient photoelectrodes for sustainable hydrogen production via photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting, aiming to address the growing global energy crisis. Among various materials, antimony-based chalcogenide semiconductors, such as Sb₂Se₃, Sb₂S₃ and Sb₂(S,Se)_1-x have emerged as promising candidates for PEC photocathodes, as they meet key criteria including, suitable band gap (1.1 to 1.7 eV), superior optoelectronic properties, high absorption coefficient and outstanding photocorrosion stability, making them highly suitable for solar-driven hydrogen generation. This review outlines the basic principles of PEC water splitting with its key parameter calculations and typical device configurations. Recent advancements in antimony chalcogenide based photocathodes are thoroughly reviewed, with reference to the intrinsic optoelectronic properties, morphological effects, the role of cocatalyst incorporation and protective interfacial layer engineering in enhancing device performance. The review article concludes with existing challenges and future research directions, highlighting the potential of antimony chalcogenide photocathodes for low-cost, efficient solar hydrogen production, tandem device architectures, and commercial-scale applications.