AbstractZnTe (Eg= 2.26 eV) and CdTe (Eg= 1.5 eV) were studied as possible candidates for a photocathode in the photoelectro‐chemical production of hydrogen.Current‐potential relationships with and without light, photocurrent‐wavelength relationships at various potentials, and the flatband potential, were measured for both electrodes in 1 N NaOH solution. the stabilities of both electrodes in NaOH solution were also examined.CdTe is a possible photocathode, but ZnTe is unacceptable, because the photocurrent appears at a too‐negative potential in relation to its negative flatband potential, and because of its low st