Issue 23, 2016

p-Type CuBi2O4: an easily accessible photocathodic material for high-efficiency water splitting

Abstract

In view of the disadvantages of the conventional photocathodic materials, we focus on exploiting new candidates for a high-efficiency photoelectrochemical (PEC) system. Herein, we report on the fabrication of CuBi2O4 (CBO) films on FTO (fluorine doped tin oxide) and FTO/Au substrates, respectively, through the electrochemical deposition approach. It was observed that the presence of a Au thin layer could help to improve the crystal quality of the grown CBO films, promote the separation of photo-generated charges in the corresponding material and reduce the resistance of the system. In comparison with the FTO/CBO, the FTO/Au/CBO photocathode presents a remarkable improvement in the photocurrent, from −0.23 mA cm−2 to −0.50 mA cm−2 at 0.1 V vs. RHE. After optimizing the PEC system by depositing Pt nanoparticles on the CBO films, the plateau photocurrent was further amplified to −1.24 mA cm−2. These data indicate an attractive p-type material in photoelectrochemistry, without concern for the corrosion problem in aqueous electrolytes.

Graphical abstract: p-Type CuBi2O4: an easily accessible photocathodic material for high-efficiency water splitting

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
09 Feb 2016
Accepted
10 May 2016
First published
10 May 2016

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016,4, 8995-9001

p-Type CuBi2O4: an easily accessible photocathodic material for high-efficiency water splitting

D. Cao, N. Nasori, Z. Wang, Y. Mi, L. Wen, Y. Yang, S. Qu, Z. Wang and Y. Lei, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016, 4, 8995 DOI: 10.1039/C6TA01234E

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