Fabrication of gold/polyaniline/copper oxide electrode for efficient photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution

Abstract

This study explores a novel photoelectrode composed of copper oxide (CuO), polyaniline (PANI), and gold (Au) for efficient hydrogen production through photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Structural and morphological analyses using various techniques confirm the successful fabrication of the ternary Au/PANI/CuO photoelectrode. The integration of Au, PANI, and CuO nanomaterials enhances light harvesting, facilitates charge transfer, and reduces charge recombination due to the plasmonic effect of Au and the synergistic interaction between PANI and CuO. The Au/PANI/CuO photoelectrode achieves a 300-fold increase in photocurrent density (15 mA cm⁻² at −0.39 V vs. RHE) compared to pure CuO. Additionally, it demonstrates superior operational stability for 5 hours and records an IPCE of 45% at 500 nm. These findings pave the way for the development of high-performance and durable plasmonic/polymer/semiconductor photoelectrodes for sustainable and clean hydrogen generation.