Improving the photoelectrochemical water splitting performance of CuO photocathodes using a protective CuBi2O4 layer

Nguyen Hoang Lam; Nguyen Tam Nguyen Truong; Nam Le; Kwang Soon Ahn; Younjung Jo; Chang Duk Kim; Jae Hak Jung

doi:10.1038/s41598-023-32804-0

Improving the photoelectrochemical water splitting performance of CuO photocathodes using a protective CuBi₂O₄ layer

Nguyen Hoang Lam, Nguyen Tam Nguyen Truong, Nam Le, Kwang Soon Ahn, Younjung Jo, Chang Duk Kim, Jae Hak Jung

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

A heterojunction photocathode of CuO and CuBi₂O₄ grown on an FTO substrate (FTO/CuO/CuBi₂O₄) was synthesized using hydrothermal method followed by spin coating and annealing to overcome the bottlenecks encountered by CuO in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting application. The synthesis methods, morphological, structural properties, and composition of each sample under each synthesis condition are discussed in detail. The photocathode with 15 coating layers annealed at 450 °C exhibited the best PEC performance. Moreover, its current density reached 1.23 mA/cm² under an applied voltage of − 0.6 V versus Ag/AgCl in a neutral electrolyte. Additionally, it exhibited higher stability than the bare CuO thin film. The bonding of CuBi₂O₄ on CuO resulted in close contact between the two semiconductors, helping the semiconductors support each other to increase the PEC efficiency of the photocathode. CuO acted as the electron-generating layer, and the CuBi₂O₄ layer helped minimize photocorrosion as well as transport the carriers to the electrode/electrolyte interface to accomplish the hydrogen evolution reaction.

Original language	English
Article number	5776
Journal	Scientific Reports
Volume	13
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-32804-0
State	Published - Dec 2023

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title = "Improving the photoelectrochemical water splitting performance of CuO photocathodes using a protective CuBi2O4 layer",

abstract = "A heterojunction photocathode of CuO and CuBi2O4 grown on an FTO substrate (FTO/CuO/CuBi2O4) was synthesized using hydrothermal method followed by spin coating and annealing to overcome the bottlenecks encountered by CuO in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting application. The synthesis methods, morphological, structural properties, and composition of each sample under each synthesis condition are discussed in detail. The photocathode with 15 coating layers annealed at 450 °C exhibited the best PEC performance. Moreover, its current density reached 1.23 mA/cm2 under an applied voltage of − 0.6 V versus Ag/AgCl in a neutral electrolyte. Additionally, it exhibited higher stability than the bare CuO thin film. The bonding of CuBi2O4 on CuO resulted in close contact between the two semiconductors, helping the semiconductors support each other to increase the PEC efficiency of the photocathode. CuO acted as the electron-generating layer, and the CuBi2O4 layer helped minimize photocorrosion as well as transport the carriers to the electrode/electrolyte interface to accomplish the hydrogen evolution reaction.",

author = "Lam, {Nguyen Hoang} and Truong, {Nguyen Tam Nguyen} and Nam Le and Ahn, {Kwang Soon} and Younjung Jo and Kim, {Chang Duk} and Jung, {Jae Hak}",

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AU - Lam, Nguyen Hoang

AU - Truong, Nguyen Tam Nguyen

AU - Le, Nam

AU - Ahn, Kwang Soon

AU - Jo, Younjung

AU - Kim, Chang Duk

AU - Jung, Jae Hak

PY - 2023/12

Y1 - 2023/12

N2 - A heterojunction photocathode of CuO and CuBi2O4 grown on an FTO substrate (FTO/CuO/CuBi2O4) was synthesized using hydrothermal method followed by spin coating and annealing to overcome the bottlenecks encountered by CuO in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting application. The synthesis methods, morphological, structural properties, and composition of each sample under each synthesis condition are discussed in detail. The photocathode with 15 coating layers annealed at 450 °C exhibited the best PEC performance. Moreover, its current density reached 1.23 mA/cm2 under an applied voltage of − 0.6 V versus Ag/AgCl in a neutral electrolyte. Additionally, it exhibited higher stability than the bare CuO thin film. The bonding of CuBi2O4 on CuO resulted in close contact between the two semiconductors, helping the semiconductors support each other to increase the PEC efficiency of the photocathode. CuO acted as the electron-generating layer, and the CuBi2O4 layer helped minimize photocorrosion as well as transport the carriers to the electrode/electrolyte interface to accomplish the hydrogen evolution reaction.

AB - A heterojunction photocathode of CuO and CuBi2O4 grown on an FTO substrate (FTO/CuO/CuBi2O4) was synthesized using hydrothermal method followed by spin coating and annealing to overcome the bottlenecks encountered by CuO in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting application. The synthesis methods, morphological, structural properties, and composition of each sample under each synthesis condition are discussed in detail. The photocathode with 15 coating layers annealed at 450 °C exhibited the best PEC performance. Moreover, its current density reached 1.23 mA/cm2 under an applied voltage of − 0.6 V versus Ag/AgCl in a neutral electrolyte. Additionally, it exhibited higher stability than the bare CuO thin film. The bonding of CuBi2O4 on CuO resulted in close contact between the two semiconductors, helping the semiconductors support each other to increase the PEC efficiency of the photocathode. CuO acted as the electron-generating layer, and the CuBi2O4 layer helped minimize photocorrosion as well as transport the carriers to the electrode/electrolyte interface to accomplish the hydrogen evolution reaction.

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Improving the photoelectrochemical water splitting performance of CuO photocathodes using a protective CuBi₂O₄ layer

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