Light-induced aggregation of nanocrystalline CdS as photoelectrodes in photoelectrochemical cells (PECs)

The aggregation of size-quantizd nanocrystalline CdS particles (Q-CdS) in the film which serves as photoelectrodes in PECs were investigated by the photoelectrochemical method. The results show the aggregation of particle in PECs obviously occurs in the electrolyte(S2−Sn2−). The photocurrent action spectra and absorption spectra of photoelectrodes display that the onset of the response is gradually shifted to red wavelengths with the increase of the illuminating time. The observations are understood in terms of the formation of larger aggregates as bulk CdS. The mechanism can be explained by the photoanodic dissolution and reform of CdS.