Tin oxide as stable protective layer for composite cuprous oxide water-splitting photocathodes

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2016

Authors

João Azevedo (Author) FCUP; S. David Tilley (Author) Other; Marcel Schreier (Author) Other; Morgan Stefik (Author) Other; Célia Sousa (Author) Other; João Pedro Araújo (Author) FCUP; Adélio Mendes (Author) FEUP; Michael Grätzel (Author) Other; Matthew T. Mayer (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Nano Energy

Vol. 24

Pages: 10-16

ISSN: 2211-2855

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 80 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 79 Citations

INSPEC

Scientific classification

CORDIS: Technological sciences

Associated Projects

BI-DSC - Building Integrated Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00K-BT9

DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2016.03.022

Abstract (EN): For a sustainable future, efficient solar energy harvesting and storage is required. Solar hydrogen production from photoelectrochemical water splitting is a promising technology and, in particular, cuprous oxide photocathodes are interesting photoelectrodes due to their high efficiency and low cost. However, chemical instability inhibits practical application of such devices. This work reports a novel strategy for protecting cuprous oxide from photocorrosion, wherein a thin SnO2 overlayer enables increased stability over previous reports utilizing TiO2 protective layers. Performance and stability are influenced by the film thickness, post-deposition steam treatment, and the nature of the heterojunction interface. Stability over 57 h of sustained photoelectrochemical water reduction, maintaining 90% of initial photocurrent, is achieved.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7