• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.206-214
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• 2017

SnS films have been prepared by electrodeposition technique onto Cu and ITO substrates using acidic solutions containing tin chloride and sodium thiosulfate with sodium citrate as an additive. The effects of sodium citrate on the electrochemical behavior of electrolyte bath containing tin chloride and sodium thiosulfate were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques. Deposited films were characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, optical, photoelectrochemical, and electrical measurements. XRD data showed that deposited SnS with sodium citrate on both substrates were polycrystalline with orthorhombic structures and preferential orientations along (111) directions. However, SnS films with sodium citrate on Cu substrate exhibited a good crystalline structure if compared with that deposited on ITO substrates. FTIR results confirmed the presence of SnS films at peaks 1384 and $560cm^{-1}$. SEM images revealed that SnS with sodium citrate on Cu substrate are well covered with a smooth and uniform surface morphology than deposited on ITO substrate. The direct band gap of the films is about 1.3 eV. p-type semiconductor conduction of SnS was confirmed by photoelectrochemical and Hall Effect measurements. Electrical properties of SnS films showed a low electrical resistivity of $30{\Omega}cm$, carrier concentration of $2.6{\times}10^{15}cm^{-3}$ and mobility of $80cm^2V^{-1}s^{-1}$.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.604-610
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• 2016

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.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.282-291
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• 2018

The pristine fluorine-doped $SnO_2$ (abbreviated as FTO) inverse opal (IO) was developed using a 410 nm polystyrene bead template. The nanolayered copper tungsten oxide ($CuWO_4$) was decorated on the FTO IO film using a facile electrochemical deposition, subsequently followed by annealing at $500^{\circ}C$ for 90 min. The morphologies, crystalline structure, optical properties and photoelectrochemical characteristics of the FTO and $CuWO_4$-decorated FTO (briefly denoted as $FTO/CuWO_4$) IO film were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-vis spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, showing FTO IO in the hexagonally closed-pack arrangement with a pore diameter and wall thickness of about 300 nm and 20 nm, respectively. Above this film, the $CuWO_4$ was electrodeposited by controlling the cycling number in cyclic voltammetry, suggesting that the $CuWO_4$ formed during 4 cycles (abbreviated as $CuWO_4$(4 cycles)) on FTO IO film exhibited partial distribution of $CuWO_4$ nanoparticles. Additional distribution of $CuWO_4$ nanoparticles was observed in the case of $FTO/CuWO_4$(8 cycles) IO film. The $CuWO_4$ layer exhibits triclinic structure with an indirect band gap of approximately 2.5 eV and shows the enhanced visible light absorption. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) behavior was evaluated in the 0.5 M $Na_2SO_4$ solution under solar illumination, suggesting that the $FTO/CuWO_4$(4 cycles) IO films exhibit a photocurrent density ($J_{sc}$) of $0.42mA/cm^2$ at 1.23 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE, denoted as $V_{RHE}$), while the FTO IO and $FTO/CuWO_4$(8 cycles) IO films exhibited a $J_{sc}$ of 0.14 and $0.24mA/cm^2$ at $1.23V_{RHE}$, respectively. This difference can be explained by the increased visible light absorption by the $CuWO_4$ layer and the favorable charge separation/transfer event in the cascading band alignment between FTO and $CuWO_4$ layer, enhancing the overall PEC performance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 1995.11a
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• pp.240-243
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• 1995

The basic electrochemical and photochemical behavior of ultrathin mono- and hetero-type LB film of amphiphilic Ru bipyridine complex adsorbed on ITO electrode by the Langmuir- Blodgett(LB) method as monolayer and alternating multilayer state. With theoretical equation of cyclic voltammetry for redox species, the cyclic voltammogram were simulated successfully taking account the interaction parameters. We could fit almost all measured voltammograms with k$^{\circ}$=72s$\^$-1/, ${\alpha}$$\sub$a/=0.44, ${\alpha}$$\sub$c/=0.54, $\Gamma$$\sub$T/=1.4${\times}$10$\^$-10/, k=0.015s$\^$-1/ values. The AFM images of mono and hetero type LB film surfaces on ITO were also studied.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.496-500
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• 2003

Molecular self-assembled of surfactant viologen are of recent interest because they can from functional electrodes as well as micellar assemblies, which can be profitably utilized for display devices, photoelectrochemical studies and electrocatalysis as electron acceptor or electron mediator. Fromherz et al studied the self-assembly of thiol and disulfide derivatives of viologens bearing long n-alkyl chains on Au electrode surface[1]. The electrochemical behavior of self-assembled viologen monolayer has been investigated with QCM, which has been known as nano-gram order mass detector. The self-assembly process of viologen was monitored using resonant frequency(ΔF) and resonant resistance(R). The redox process of viologen was observed with resonant frequency(ΔF).

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.183-188
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• 2001

The deposition behavior and photoelectric response characteristics of chlorophyll a(Chl a) monolayers and multilayers were investigated under various film fabrication conditions. Chl a LB films were deposited onto quartz and pretreated ITO glass substrates under several fabrication conditions, including surface pressure and number of layers. The absorption spectra of Chl a in a solution state and solid-like state (LB films) were fairly consistent with each other, and two absorption peaks were found at 678 and 438nm, respectively. The prepared Chl a LB films were set into an electrochemistry cell equipped with a Pt plate as the counter electrode, and the photoelectric response characteristics were obtained and analyzed relative to the light illumination. By considering the resulting photocurrents, the optimal fabrication conditions for Chl a LB films were determined as 20mN/m of surface pressure and 20 layers. The action spectrum of the Chl a LB films was obtained in the visible region, and was found to be in good agreement with the absorption spectrum. The possible application of the proposed system as a constituent of an artificial color recognition device was suggested based on combining with the photoelectric conversion property of another light-sensitive biological pigment.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.403-406
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• 2002

Molecular self-assembled of surfactant viologen are of recent interest because they can from functional electroeds as well as micellar assemblies. which can be profitably utilized for display devices. photoelectrochemical studies and electrocatalysis as electron acceptor or electron mediator[1-3]. Fromherz et al studied the se1f-assembly of thiol and disulfide derivatives of viologens bearing long n-alkyl chains on Au electrode surface[4]. In this study, the electrochemical behavior of self-assembled viologen monolayer has been investigated with QCM, which has been known as nano-gram order mass detector. The self-assembly process of viologen was monitored using resonant frequency$({\Delta}F)$ and resonant resistance(R). The redox process of viologen was observed with resonant frequency$({\Delta}F)$.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.17 no.3 s.52
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• pp.52-56
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• 2003

This study investigates the photoelectrochemical behavior of STS304 steel with TiO2 thin films coating, applied by sol-gel mehod, for the purpose of cathodic photoprotection of the steel corrosion. One time TiO2-coated STS304 steel, adapted with two kinds of TiO2 sol solution, has the most dominant photopotential abilities, which was -200mV vs. SCE and -500mV vs. SCE under illumination with 40 W fluorescent lamp, respectively. That had yielded more negative values than the corrosion potential of the bare metal(-130mv vs.SCE). The bleaching of TCE was confirmed on TiO2-coated STS304 steel under UV-illumination with 20W Black-light. This Study concluded that Ti02-coated STS304 exhibited both a cathodic photoprotection effect against corrosion and a photocatalytic self-cleaning effect.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.294-300
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• 1995

The photoelectrochemical behavior of polypyrrole films on Pt, glassy-C and indium tin oxide(ITO) under illumination was studied in aqueous solution containing a redox couple such as I-/I2 or Fe(CN)64-/Fe(CN)63-. Polypyrrole(PPy) was coated on Pt, glassy-C and ITO electrodes using electrochemical polymerization of pyrrole by potentiostatic method. Illumination of the PPy film results in the increase of cathodic and anodic currents at redox potentials of the redox species. These enhanced currents are caused both by the semiconductor characteristics of PPy and by the photothermal acceleration of redox reaction at PPy-electrode surface, and are dependent on the pH of redox solutions and the dopants in PPy.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.307-311
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• 2002

This study was investigated the photoelectrochemical behavior of STS304 steel with $TiO_2$ thin films coating, applied by sol-gel method, for the purpose of cathodic photoprotection of the steel corrosion. One time $TiO_2$-coated STS304 steel adopted two kinds of $TiO_2$ sol solution has the most dominant photopotential abilities, which was -200mV vs. SCE and -500mV vs. SCE under illumination with 40W fluorescent lamp, respectively. That was more negative than the corrosion potential of the bare metal(-150 mV). The bleaching of TCE was confirmed on $TiO_2$-coated STS304 under UV-illumination with 20 W Black-light. This Study was concluded that $TiO_2$-coated STS304 exhibited both a cathodic photoprotection effect against corrosion and photocatalytic self-cleaning effect.