New Chemistry Unit, International Centre for Materials Science and Sheikh Saqr Laboratory, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bangalore 560064, India.
Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2018 Jun 6;20(22):15300-15306. doi: 10.1039/c7cp08560e.
With the tactical integration of band edge energetics concepts in semiconducting films to reduce charge recombination and photocorrosion, an improvement in the photocurrent can be achieved by introducing CuO and NixPy into Cu2O films. Photodegradation limitations of Cu2O are overcome by the Cu2O-CuO-NixPy photocathode. NixPy, because of its excellent electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity, helps in obtaining better stability and activity. The individual effects of CuO and NixPy have been investigated and it is found that the activity enhancement stems mainly from the contribution of NixPy, whereas CuO helps with the unidirectional flow of photogenerated charges to prevent the photocorrosion of Cu2O. Relative to bare and modified Cu2O, Cu2O-CuO-NixPy shows a considerable reduction in the overpotential and a remarkable improvement in the photocurrent at 0 V (vs. RHE). This is the first report on the use of NixPy as the co-catalyst in a Cu2O based photocathode system to improve its photostability as well as its activity.
通过将能带边缘能量学概念在半导体薄膜中的战术整合，以减少电荷复合和光腐蚀，可以通过在 Cu2O 薄膜中引入 CuO 和 NixPy 来提高光电流。通过 Cu2O-CuO-NixPy 光阴极克服了 Cu2O 的光降解限制。由于 NixPy 具有优异的电催化析氢活性，有助于获得更好的稳定性和活性。研究了 CuO 和 NixPy 的单独作用，发现活性增强主要归因于 NixPy 的贡献，而 CuO 有助于光生电荷的单向流动，以防止 Cu2O 的光腐蚀。与裸的和修饰的 Cu2O 相比，Cu2O-CuO-NixPy 在 0 V（相对于 RHE）时表现出明显更低的过电势和显著提高的光电流。这是首次报道将 NixPy 用作基于 Cu2O 的光阴极系统中的共催化剂，以提高其光稳定性和活性。
