Abstract
Results are presented which show that the flatband potential of a semiconducting cadmium sulfide photoanode can be predicted from atomic electronegativity of its constituent atoms. This procedure, previously applied only to metal oxides, now appears generally applicable to any semiconductor‐electrolyte system. The flatband potential was measured in a , OH−/Pt wet photovoltaic cell as a function of S= and OH− concentrations. These measurements showed that the potential‐determining species are HS− and H+. The condition for zero net adsorbed surface charge (PZZP) was also determined by change of solution pS= with added powder and differential potentiometric titration experiments. This is found to occur at a unique S= ion concentration of . The measured flat‐band potential, corrected to the PZZP and for the difference between the Fermi level and the bottom of the conduction band, is in excellent agreement with the value predicted from the atomic electronegativities.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
