Performance Of Photoelectrochemical Cells Research Articles

Thymus schimperi Ronniger plant flowers extracted dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract Today’s energy demand is highly increased with the world’s population growth and technological advancement. Natural dye-sensitized solar cells (N-DSSCs) are attracting research areas as an alternative and renewable energy source due to their simple preparation technique, availability, cost-effectiveness, and environmentally friendliness. In the present work, we have successfully fabricated DSSC from Thymus schimperi Ronniger plant flowers for the first time. The solvents used for extraction of the flower dye were deionized water and its mixture with ethanol. The Thymus schimperi Ronniger flowers extracted dye solutions and sensitized photoanodes were characterized by FTIR and UV-Vis characterization techniques. The crystallinity of TiO2 film was analyzed by the XRD technique and shows pure anatase phase behavior. The photoelectrochemical solar cell performance parameters, like, short circuit current density (JSC), open circuit voltage VOC), fill factor (FF), and efficiency were evaluated from the current density-voltage (J-V) measurement using a Keithley 2450 source meter. DSSC sensitized with extracted dye solution by the mixture of water and ethanol showed better performance (1.37%) as compared with that of extracted dye solution by Deionized water alone (1,02%). 

Keywords: Renewable energy, Dye-sensitized solar cells, Thymus Schimperi Ronniger, photoelectrochemical

Fabrication of single-step novel synthesis of ZnCd(S0.5Se0.5)2 thin films for photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell application

In our study, we use a new method called the arrested precipitation technique (APT) to create CdZn(SSe)2 (CZSS) thin films. We obtain samples at different deposition times, ranging from 2.5 to 4 h, and analyze the effects of deposition time on the opto-structural, morphological, compositional, and photoelectrochemical (PEC) solar cell properties. As a result, we find that the band gap energy increases from 2.366 to 2.60 eV with prolonged growth time, as shown by UV–Vis spectra. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirms that the crystal structure is hexagonal, with the crystallite size increasing from 76 to 93 nm. The dislocation density and microstrain, determined by the Scherrer formula, decrease from 1.72 to 1.14 lines m−2 and from 4.75 × 10−3 to 3.87 × 10−3 (lines m−2), respectively. These results are validated using the Williamson-Hall (WH) plot and size-strain plot. The average grain size, evaluated using the standard scale bar method in scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ranges from 80 to 150 nm across CZ1 to CZ4 samples. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of CZ4 and CZ2 reveal particle sizes of 101 nm and 87 nm, respectively, while selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns confirm the polycrystalline nature of the material. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses confirm the presence of Cd, Zn, S, and Se elements in their intended stoichiometry. Notably, CZSS photoelectrodes deposited over 4 h show better performance in Photoelectrochemical cells (PEC), achieving the highest photoconversion efficiency (ɳ) at 2.33 %, as evidenced by J-V measurements.

Temperature effect on n-Si/Fe/NiFe photoanodes for the high-efficiency PEC water splitting

Sunlight-driven photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) can utilize water for high-efficiency artificial photosynthesis to produce low-cost green hydrogen fuel. It is crucial to explore the factors affecting the efficiency of PEC water splitting. The ambient temperature of the electrode is yet an important factor that influences PEC performance. Here, n-Si/Fe/NiFe composite photoanodes prepared by electrodeposition exhibited a low onset potential of 0.87 V and a high photocurrent density of 29.70 mA cm−2 (1.23 V vs. RHE) at room temperature, which is superior to those of n-Si/Fe and n-Si/NiFe. The influence of the temperature on the photoelectrochemical properties of n-Si/NiFe was systematically investigated. As the temperature increased, the photocurrent density of n-Si/Fe/NiFe decreased gradually and the oxidation reaction slowed down. Further experiments showed that raising the temperature helps to reduce the interfacial charge transfer resistance, increase the redox potential and carrier density. However, increasing the temperature also increases the recombination rate of photo generated carriers, reduces the carrier lifetime, and thus lowers the performance of PEC. Therefore, adjusting the ambient temperature is a potential method to improve the photoelectrochemical performance of silicon-based photoanodes.

Effect of copper doping in the TiO2 film electrodes on the performance of photoelectrochemical biofuel cells

Effect of copper doping in the TiO2 film electrodes on the performance of photoelectrochemical biofuel cells

Advanced Interface Engineering in Gradient Core/Shell Quantum Dots Enables Efficient Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Evolution.

Semiconductor core/shell quantum dots (QDs) are considered promising building blocks to fabricate photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells for the direct conversion of solar energy into hydrogen (H2 ). However, the lattice mismatch between core and shell in such QDs results in undesirable defects and severe carrier recombination, limiting photo-induced carrier separation/transfer and solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency. Here, an interface engineering approach is explored to minimize the core-shell lattice mismatch in CdS/CdSex S1-x (x = 0.09-1) core/shell QDs (g-CSG). As a proof-of-concept, PEC cells based on g-CSG QDs yield a remarkable photocurrent density of 13.1mAcm-2 under AM 1.5 G one-sun illumination (100mWcm-2 ), which is ≈54.1% and ≈33.7% higher compared to that in CdS/CdSe0.5 S0.5 (g-CSA) and CdS/CdSe QDs (g-CS), respectively. Theoretical calculations and carrier dynamics confirm more efficient carrier separation and charge transfer rate in g-CSG QDs with respect to g-CSA and g-CS QDs. These results are attributed to the minimization of the core-shell lattice mismatch by the cascade gradient shell in g-CSG QDs, which modifies carrier confinement potential and reduces interfacial defects. This work provides fundamental insights into the interface engineering of core/shell QDs and may open up new avenues to boost the performance of PEC cells for H2 evolution and other QDs-based optoelectronic devices.

Enhancing photoelectrochemical performance through surface engineering of CdSe and Al-doped CdSe nanoparticles on ZnO/FTO photoanodes

This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the enhanced performance of photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells through the decoration of CdSe and Al-doped CdSe nanoparticles on ZnO rods. The capacitance-voltage study reveals that Al doping increases the donor concentration and improves minority carrier diffusion time while reducing dispersion at grain boundaries. Spectral response analysis demonstrates that CdSe/ZnO/FTO and Al: CdSe/ZnO/FTO photoanodes exhibit maximum short-circuit currents at a wavelength of 675 nm, corresponding to a bandgap of 1.84 eV. Al doping shifts the spectral response to longer wavelengths, indicating an estimated bandgap of 1.72 eV. Furthermore, the effect of surface free energy and polarity on the developed photoanode materials is investigated. CdSe and Al-doped CdSe nano particles on ZnO/FTO surfaces exhibit reduced water contact angles, indicating improved wettability. The surface free energy decreases with Al doping, potentially influencing electrolyte absorption and the interaction between photoanodes and electrolytes. The presence of polar hydroxyl (-OH) groups and Al+++ ions on the Al: CdSe nano particles contributes to their impact on surface free energy. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing PEC cell performance by manipulating doping concentrations and surface characteristics.

Operando IR Optical Control of Localized Charge Carriers in BiVO4 Photoanodes.

In photoelectrochemical cells (PECs) the photon-to-current conversion efficiency is often governed by carrier transport. Most metal oxides used in PECs exhibit thermally activated transport due to charge localization via the formation of polarons or the interaction with defects. This impacts catalysis by restricting the charge accumulation and extraction. To overcome this transport bottleneck nanostructuring, selective doping and photothermal treatments have been employed. Here we demonstrate an alternative approach capable of directly activating localized carriers in bismuth vanadate (BiVO4). We show that IR photons can optically excite localized charges, modulate their kinetics, and enhance the PEC current. Moreover, we track carriers bound to oxygen vacancies and expose their ∼10 ns charge localization, followed by ∼60 μs transport-assisted trapping. Critically, we demonstrate that localization is strongly dependent on the electric field within the device. While optical modulation has still a limited impact on overall PEC performance, we argue it offers a path to control devices on demand and uncover defect-related photophysics.

Characterization and Performance Evaluation of Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) Thickness on ZnO Nanorods-Based Photoelectrochemical Cell

Photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) has the same working principle as solar cell which convert solar energy into electricity. PEC consists of photoanode, electrolyte, and counter electrode, where electrolyte plays an important role in determining PEC performance. Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) is the most suitable electrolyte used due to its high ionic conductivity and chemically stable. In this study, YSZ was deposited to ZnO Nanorods (NRs) by doctor blade method with thickness variation of 100 μm (PEC10) and 120 μm (PEC12). X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and UV-Vis spectroscopy were used to distinguish the phase, morphology, and band gap of the formed materials, respectively. Moreover, I-V test was also conducted to evaluate the performance of the fabricated PEC with different YSZ thickness. SEM image confirmed the deposition thickness of YSZ layer on NRs which formed rough and irregular interface due to grain boundary fusion of YSZ and NRs. In addition, there is little difference XRD pattern from PEC10 and PEC12 which shows ZnO and YSZ peaks with peak shifting observed. Meanwhile, slightly difference noticed on band gap value where PEC10 has 3.25 eV and PEC12 has 3.58 eV. Even though, the characteristic of PEC10 and PEC12 is similar, the I-V test shown a significant difference of solar efficiency where PEC10 has higher efficiency of about 0.328% than PEC12. This difference is contributed by smaller grain size which has higher specific surface area and porosity. Based on this study, the thickness of electrolyte layer YSZ doesn’t affect the basic characteristic of PEC but affect the efficiency of PEC significantly.

Fast formation of thin TiOx layer on titanium surface enabling a broadband light capture and fast charge carrier transfer

Improving light absorption and conversion ability is essential to improving the performance of photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells in converting and storing solar radiation into chemical energy. As part of this, realizing broadband light absorption in the wavelength of 250–2500 nm is promising to improve solar energy utilization. Previous studies have typically relied on noble metal functional materials to realize visible light harvesting over broadband light capture in PEC water splitting (WS) cells. Here, we report an electrochemical oxidation method to prepare thin TiOx layer on a Ti-foil surface. A nanostructured film is formed within 10–60 s with a tunable absorption range between 250 and 2500 nm, going beyond the 420 nm absorption edge of TiO2. In addition to superior light capture ability, the film shows a 10-fold enhancement in the charge carrier transfer rate under AM 1.5 G light compared to that measured under dark conditions. The method proposed is simple, fast, and low-cost, and it has potential for large-area PEC cells with promoted charge carriers’ transfer.

Modulation of Hot Electrons via Interface Engineering of Au@ZnIn2S4/MXene for Efficient Photoelectrochemical Seawater Splitting under Visible Light

Interface engineering in hybrid plasmonic metal/semiconductor heterostructures is an efficient approach to enhance the catalytic performance of photocatalysts and photoelectrochemical cells in harvesting and converting sunlight, especially in the range of visible light. Plasmon-induced hot electron injection plays a crucial role in the transfer of plasmonic energy from a plasmonic metal to semiconductor in a plasmonic metal/semiconductor system. Herein, the efficient injection and utilization of hot electrons are achieved by fabrication of a Au@ZnIn2S4/Ti3C2 (Au@ZIS/Ti3C2) system, in which the core–shell Au@ZIS nanoparticles with well-defined interfaces are anchored on the 2D Ti3C2 surface. The core–shell Au@ZIS nanostructure is first constructed by a cation exchange reaction method. The well-defined interface of the Au core and ZIS shell optimizes the electron transfer pathway and greatly promotes the extraction of hot electrons from Au to ZIS. Furthermore, the electrons concentrated on ZIS can be further transferred to Ti3C2 owing to its excellent electron mobility and conductivity, leading to highly efficient separation and transfer of electrons through a two-step transfer process. The activities of photoelectrochemical (PEC) seawater splitting demonstrate that the integration of Au and ZIS into an optimized core–shell structure and its further modification by Ti3C2 results in a drastic improvement in PEC activity. Therefore, Au@ZIS/Ti3C2 shows the highest photocurrent density and smallest charge transfer resistance among various samples, accompanied by 6.5 and 10.8 orders of enhancement in PEC H2 evolution compared to reference samples of ZIS/Ti3C2 and Au/Ti3C2. Elaborate design and construction of core–shell plasmonic metal@semiconductor nanostructure with a well-defined interface and 2D MXene support would provide a feasible and promising method to enhance the performance of PEC seawater splitting.

Molecular insight into the GaP(110)-water interface using machine learning accelerated molecular dynamics

GaP has been shown to be a promising photoelectrocatalyst for selective CO2 reduction to methanol. Due to the relevance of the interface structure to important processes such as electron/proton transfer, a detailed understanding of the GaP(110)-water interfacial structure is of great importance. Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) can be used for obtaining the microscopic information of the interfacial structure. However, the GaP(110)-water interface cannot converge to an equilibrated structure at the time scale of the AIMD simulation. In this work, we perform the machine learning accelerated molecular dynamics (MLMD) to overcome the difficulty of insufficient sampling by AIMD. With the help of MLMD, we unravel the microscopic information of the structure of the GaP(110)-water interface, and obtain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of proton transfer at the GaP(110)-water interface, which will pave the way for gaining valuable insights into photoelectrocatalytic mechanisms and improving the performance of photoelectrochemical cells.

Three-dimensional imaging performance of photoelectrochemical cells.

A photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell produces hydrogen energy using solar energy and an electrochemical reaction. In the hydrogen production process with water decomposition, electrons move from the anode to the cathode, and by measuring the current value at this time, the PEC cell can generate hydrogen and function as an image sensor at the same time. Due to the characteristics of the PEC cell that can perform both functions simultaneously, it can be applied as a device that can detect and respond to the surrounding environment without the need for an observation system such as a camera. We present the imaging performance of PEC cells. The effectiveness of the experiment was confirmed by applying the PEC cells to integral imaging, one of the three-dimensional (3D) imaging techniques.

A tandem photoelectrochemical cell based on Cu2-xTe nanocrystals for solar energy conversion to hydrogen

In this work we present the design, assembly and characterization of a tandem photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell based on two different crystallographic phases of sub-stoichiometric copper telluride nanocrystals (NCs). The first one, a pseudo-cubic phase, pc-Cu 2-x Te, is characterized by positive photocurrents, while the second one, a hexagonal phase, h-Cu 2-x Te, favors negative ones. Taking advantage of the different optoelectronic properties of the two Cu 2-x Te structures, we prepared a PEC cell composed of a hybrid pc-Cu 2-x Te/TiO 2 photoanode, with TiO 2 acting as a light absorber and electron selective layer, and a h-Cu 2-x Te/CuI photocathode, with CuI behaving as a photo-absorber and hole selective layer. The tandem PEC cell shows a photocurrent density of ∼0.5 mA/cm 2 when measured in a 2-electrode configuration without any co-catalyst. Finally, to test the PEC cell performance for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), a thin film of Pt was deposited on top of the photocathode and ∼7 μmol of hydrogen were obtained at 0.6 V in a 1-h experiment, reaching a photocurrent of 1 mA/cm 2 with no losses. • Investigating the optoelectronic properties of different Cu2-XTe crystallographic phases and using them as photoelectrodes for the first time. • Combining Cu2-XTe with TiO2 and CuI to build fully working hybrid photoelectrodes. • Building a functional Tandem PEC cell for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).

Effect of activation temperature of Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ)/ZnO nanorods thin film on photoelectrochemical cell performance

A photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) is a device that converts solar energy into electrical energy stored in the form of hydrogen and oxygen. The n-type semiconductor that shows promising potential as a PEC cell device is known as ZnO. ZnO in the form of nanorods (NRs) is considered capable of increasing the conversion efficiency of PEC performance due to the large surface area. However, in the energy conversion process, the photoactive layer of the PEC cell corrode easily in the electrolyte solution, reducing the stability of the current produced and shortening the lifetime of the PEC cell. In this study, the stability improvement using solid electrolytes in photoelectrochemical technology was studied. Yttria Stabilized Zirconia is a type of solid electrolyte that has high mechanical properties and ionic conductivity. Activation of YSZ powder at various temperatures is considered very instrumental to the efficiency of the PEC cell device. XRD, SEM-EDX, and UV–Vis characterized the samples. For efficiency measurement through I–V testing, it is equipped with photodetectors such as photoresponse of current and voltage as well as photostability. The higher the YSZ activation temperature, several results were obtained, the larger ZnO NRs/YSZ particle size, the lower the thickness of the film, the higher the absorbance value, and the smaller the band gap. In addition, sample agglomeration occurs at the temperature with the lowest activation and sample response when irradiated enough. Finally, the efficiency of the cell increases, namely at the YSZ activation temperature of 1400 °C, where 1% is produced.

Green electrodeposition synthesis of NiFe-LDH/MoOx/BiVO4 for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting

Herein, a facile green synthetic protocol for nanoporous NiFe-LDH/MoOx/BiVO4 had been established via an electrochemical deposition method for enhanced photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) performance. The rational design of nanoporous NiFe-LDH/MoOx/BiVO4 played a vital role in improving the photocurrent density and achieving 2.7 mA /cm2 at 1.23 VRHE (3.9 - fold higher than BiVO4) with a negative onset potential of 267 mV offset. Moreover, the holes were efficiently consumed for water splitting through the cyclic reaction of NiFe-LDH layer. Thus, the nanoporous NiFe-LDH/MoOx/BiVO4 photoanode dramatically improved bulk charge transfer efficiency and surface charge injection efficiency reaching nearly 50% and 95% at 1.23 VRHE, respectively. In addition, the accumulated charge test proved that Mo oxide had the function of transferring holes. And the highest photovoltage and lowest charge recombination kinetics of composite photoanode also presented that the oxide species of Mo and NiFe-LDH had the properties of a passivation layer which were characterized by OCP (Open Circuit Potential) and IMPS (Intensity Modulated Photocurrent Spectroscopy) test. The excellent photocurrent density and facile layer-by-layer synthesis of NiFe-LDH/MoOx/BiVO4 nanocomposite made it a promising photocatalytic material for practical applications. This newly designed strategy was anticipated to be applied in future promising photoanodes for PEC water splitting.

Photo-assisted decoration of Ag-Pt nanoparticles on Si photocathodes for reducing overpotential toward enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting

Developing new catalysts to decorate photoelectrodes has been widely used to enhance the performance of photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells. However, the high cost, complex synthesis, and poor stability of catalyst decoration strongly hinder its practical application. Here, we report a facile and low-cost decoration of Ag-Pt nanoparticles (Ag-Pt NPs) on Si photocathodes with TiO2/Ti sacrificial overlayers. Such a decoration does not rely on any metallic-ion precursor solution since it is formed automatically via galvanic replacement reactions during PEC measurements; that is, Ti is displaced by Ag+ and Pt2+ ions, which are from the employed reference and counter electrodes, respectively. The as-decorated Ag-Pt NPs are verified to significantly enhance the hydrogen evolution reduction kinetics without substantially degrading the optical performance of Si photocathodes. Owing to optoelectronic advantages, the overpotential required to maintain a photocurrent density of 10 mA cm−2 (under AM 1.5G illumination) is reduced from −0.8 VRHE (for the bare planar Si photocathode) to −0.1 VRHE (for the planar Si photocathode with Ag-Pt NP decoration). Moreover, a further anodic shift (to 0 VRHE) is visible for the Si nanowire array photocathode with Ag-Pt NP decoration, along with high long-term stability of the PEC response in acidic and neutral electrolytes. This study opens a new opportunity for the photo-assisted decoration of various alloy NPs on the morphology-varying photoelectrodes with different applications.

Modeling photovoltaic-electrochemical water splitting devices for the production of hydrogen under real working conditions

Photoelectrochemical splitting of water is potentially a sustainable and affordable solution to produce hydrogen from sun light. Given the infancy stage of technology development, it is important to compare the different experimental concepts and identify the most promising routes. The performance of photoelectrochemical devices is typically measured and reported under ideal irradiation conditions, i.e. 1 sun. However, real-life operating conditions are very different, and are varying in time according to daily and seasonal cycles. In this work, we present an equivalent circuit model for computing the steady state performance of photoelectrochemical cells. The model allows for a computationally efficient, yet precise prediction of the system performance and a comparison of different devices working in real operating conditions. To this end, five different photoelectrochemical devices are modeled using experimental results from literature. The calculated performance shows good agreement with experimental data of the different devices. Furthermore, the model is extended to include the effect of illumination and tilt angle on the hydrogen production efficiency. The resulting model is used to compare the devices for different locations with high and low average illumination and different tilt angles. The results show that including real illumination data has a considerable impact on the efficiency of the PV-EC device. The yearly average solar-to-hydrogen efficiency is significantly lower than the ideal one. Moreover, it is dependent on the tilt angle, whose optimal value for European-like latitude is around 40°. Notably, we also show that the most performing device through the whole year might not necessarily be the one with highest sun-to-hydrogen efficiency for one-sun illumination.

Impact of light intensity and electrolyte volume on performance of photo-electrochemical (PEC) solar cell

The world’s energy demand is continuously increasing. Non-renewable energy sources, such as petroleum and coal, are extremely limited. On the other hand, conversion efficiency of renewable energy sources into useful forms is insufficient. In our study, we pursued methods to make more efficient solar cells – in particular, photo-electrochemical (PEC) solar cells. We selected the Molybdenum diselenide (MoSe2) based PEC solar cell because of its high resistance to corrosion. First, we explored the relationship between light intensity and efficiency of PEC solar cells. We expected that corrosion of the PEC solar cell would increase with increase in intensity of incident light. Thus, we hypothesized that the efficiency of the solar cell would decrease with increased intensity of incident light. Further, we investigated the relationship between solar cell efficiency and electrolyte volume. We hypothesized that efficiency of PEC solar cell would increase as the electrolyte volume increased. We analyzed several parameters— such as light intensity, fill factor, efficiency, etc.—to draw conclusions. First, we found that percentage efficiency of PEC solar cell was proportional to (light intensity)-0.9. Further analysis showed that PEC solar cell performance was positively influenced by increasing the electrolyte volume. Data revealed that this increase in solar cell performance was more consequential at low intensities of light (around 10 mW/cm2). Our study could contribute to improving the quality of PEC solar cells and might help in the development of carbon-free hydrogen economy.

Carbon dots enhance the interface electron transfer and photoelectrochemical kinetics in TiO2 photoanode

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is one of the most promising strategies to turn solar energy into chemical fuels. The low efficiency of photo-generated charge separation caused by fast electron-hole recombination is regarded as a challenge that hinders the further improvement of TiO2 photoanode performance in PEC cells. Here, the nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) anchored TiO2 photoanodes were fabricated by one-step hydrothermal method. The in-situ transient photovoltage (TPV) technology shows that electron-trap effect is formed in TiO2 photoanode due to the existence of N-CDs. Meanwhile, the enhancement of photo-generated charge separation efficiency was proven as the charge extraction of TiO2 is promoted by ~160% after anchoring N-CDs. Besides, N-CDs increase the conductivity of TiO2 photoanode and promote the efficiency of photo-generated charge transfer. In addition, the impedance of TiO2 photoanode and its interface are reduced by ~ 34% and ~ 66%, respectively. Under AM 1.5G light intensity and 1.23 V vs. RHE, the highest photocurrent densities of TiO2/N-CDs (TNCD-15 mg) is 3.09 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M NaOH, which is ~ 3.22 times as high as that of the primitive TiO2. This work explains the mechanism of anchoring N-CDs to improve PEC performance through in-situ characterization, which provides a new idea for PEC material design to achieve higher PEC performances.

Photoelectrochemical and photovoltaic cell performances of thermally evaporated Cu3BiS3 thin films

Photoelectrochemical cell and solar cell applications of Cu3xBi2-xS3 thin film with various ‘x’ values (x = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1) are studied in the present investigation. Phase pure orthorhombic structured Cu3xBi2-xS3 (x = 1) is confirmed from the structural analysis. All the films have higher optical absorption in the visible region and the bandgap values are ranging from 2.26 eV to 1.81 eV for Cu3xBi2-xS3 (x = 0 to 1) films. Morphological analysis showed the uniform distribution of spherical shaped particles of Cu3xBi2-xS3 over the substrate. AFM analysis indicates decrease in surface roughness with increase of ‘x’ values. Electrical studies carried out using Hall effect analysis confirms ‘p’ type conductivity of Cu3BiS3. The photoconversion efficiency through the photoelectrochemical cell performance (PEC) of FTO/Cu3xBi2-xS3 (x = 0.25 to 1) films and solar cell behavior of FTO/Cu3xBi2-xS3 (x = 0.25 to 1)/CdS/Ag devices are reported.