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Highly efficient and photostable photocathodes based on CuWO4/Cu2O nanostructured thin films

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Abstract

Nanostructured CuWO4/Cu2O thin films have been developed and used as photocathodes in photoelectrochemical water splitting. Bare Cu2O and CuWO4/Cu2O have been prepared by wet chemical oxidation method. The photocurrent density and photostability of CuWO4/Cu2O significantly increased in comparison with bare Cu2O, according to the results. The photocurrent density values of bare Cu2O and optimized CuWO4/Cu2O samples were 0.8 and 1.8 mA/cm2 (at − 0.6 V vs. Ag/AgCl), respectively. In addition, the remaining photocurrent of optimized CuWO4/Cu2O photocathode was 72% following 1000 s chronoamperometry test, which was over five times greater than that of bare Cu2O photocathode (12.5%). Field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, ultraviolet visible (UV–Vis), Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the films prepared. As the results indicate, micro-/nanostructures of various morphologies are formed on the copper plate surfaces.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 84156-83111, Iran

    Mohamad Mohsen Momeni, Yousef Ghayeb & Majid Menati

Authors
  1. Mohamad Mohsen Momeni
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  2. Yousef Ghayeb
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  3. Majid Menati
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Correspondence to Mohamad Mohsen Momeni.

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Momeni, M.M., Ghayeb, Y. & Menati, M. Highly efficient and photostable photocathodes based on CuWO4/Cu2O nanostructured thin films. J IRAN CHEM SOC 17, 701–715 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13738-019-01807-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13738-019-01807-y

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