Korean Journal of Materials Research (한국재료학회지)

Materials Research Society of Korea (한국재료학회)
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Fabrication and Photoelectrochemical Properties of a Cu2O/CuO Heterojunction Photoelectrode for Hydrogen Production from Solar Water Splitting

태양광 물 분해를 통한 수소 생산용 Cu2O/CuO 이종접합 광전극의 제작 및 광전기화학적 특성

  • Kim, Soyoung (Graduate School of Advanced Circuit Substrate Engineering, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Kim, Hyojin (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Hong, Soon-Ku (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Kim, Dojin (Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Chungnam National University)
  • 김소영 (충남대학교 차세대기판학과) ;
  • 김효진 (충남대학교 공과대학 신소재공학과) ;
  • 홍순구 (충남대학교 공과대학 신소재공학과) ;
  • 김도진 (충남대학교 공과대학 신소재공학과)
  • Received : 2016.08.23
  • Accepted : 2016.09.29
  • Published : 2016.11.27
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Abstract

We report on the fabrication and characterization of a novel $Cu_2O/CuO$ heterojunction structure with CuO nanorods embedded in $Cu_2O$ thin film as an efficient photocathode for photoelectrochemical (PEC) solar water splitting. A CuO nanorod array was first prepared on an indium-tin-oxide-coated glass substrate via a seed-mediated hydrothermal synthesis method; then, a $Cu_2O$ thin film was electrodeposited onto the CuO nanorod array to form an oxide semiconductor heterostructure. The crystalline phases and morphologies of the heterojunction materials were examined using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, as well as Raman scattering. The PEC properties of the fabricated $Cu_2O/CuO$ heterojunction photocathode were evaluated by photocurrent conversion efficiency measurements under white light illumination. From the observed PEC current density versus voltage (J-V) behavior, the $Cu_2O/CuO$ photocathode was found to exhibit negligible dark current and high photocurrent density, e.g. $-1.05mA/cm^2$ at -0.6 V vs. $Hg/HgCl_2$ in $1mM\;Na_2SO_4$ electrolyte, revealing the effective operation of the oxide heterostructure. The photocurrent conversion efficiency of the $Cu_2O/CuO$ photocathode was estimated to be 1.27% at -0.6 V vs. $Hg/HgCl_2$. Moreover, the PEC current density versus time (J-T) profile measured at -0.5 V vs. $Hg/HgCl_2$ on the $Cu_2O/CuO$ photocathode indicated a 3-fold increase in the photocurrent density compared to that of a simple $Cu_2O$ thin film photocathode. The improved PEC performance was attributed to a certain synergistic effect of the bilayer heterostructure on the light absorption and electron-hole recombination processes.

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References

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