On the stability enhancement of cuprous oxide water splitting photocathodes by low temperature steam annealing

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

J. Azevedo (Author) FEUP; L. Steier (Author) Other; P. Dias (Author) FEUP; M. Stefik (Author) Other; C. T. Sousa (Author) REIT; J. P. Araújo (Author) FCUP; A. Mendes (Author) FEUP; M. Graetzelc (Author) Other; S. D. Tilley (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Energy and Environmental Sciences

Vol. 7 No. 12

Pages: 4044-4052

ISSN: 1754-5692

Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 109 Citations

Scopus - 111 Citations

INSPEC

Associated Projects

H2Solar - Células fotoelectroquímicas para produção de hidrogénio a partir de energia solar

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-Y5Y

DOI: 10.1039/c4ee02160f

Abstract (EN): Given the intermittent nature of solar radiation, the large-scale use of solar energy requires an efficient energy storage solution. So far, the only practical way to store such large amounts of energy is in the form of a chemical energy carrier, i.e., a fuel. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells offer the ability to convert solar energy directly into chemical energy in the form of hydrogen. Cuprous oxide (Cu2O) is being investigated for photoelectrochemical solar water splitting since it has a band gap of 2.0 eV with favorable energy band positions for water cleavage; it is abundant and environmentally friendly. A major challenge with Cu2O is its limited chemical stability in aqueous environments. We present a simple and low-cost treatment to create a highly stable photocathode configuration for H-2 production, consisting of steam treatment of the multilayer structures. The role of this treatment was investigated and the optimized electrodes have shown photocurrents over -5 mA cm(-2) with 90% stability over more than 50 h of light chopping (biased at 0 V-RHE in pH 5 electrolyte).

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9