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Nano Research 2018, 11(3): 1530-1540 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-017-1769-y
Research Article | Issue | Published: 02 February 2018

Tetrafunctional Cu2S thin layers on Cu2O nanowires for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting

Show Author's Information Zhenzhen Li,  Zhonghai Zhang( )
School of Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringEast China Normal UniversityShanghai200241China
Keywords:
cuprous oxide, cuprous sulfide, nanowire, photocathode, water reduction
Cite this article:
Li Z, Zhang Z. Tetrafunctional Cu2S thin layers on Cu2O nanowires for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting. Nano Research, 2018, 11(3): 1530-1540. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-017-1769-y
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Abstract Full text Electronic supplementary material About this article

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting by photocathodes based on p-type semiconductors is a promising process for direct and efficient hydrogen generation. The identification of ideal photocathode materials with a high photoconversion efficiency and long-term stability is still a significant challenge. Herein, we propose a new photocathode consisting of Cu2S-coated Cu2O nanowires (NWs) supported on a three-dimensional porous copper foam. The Cu2S thin layer is generated in situ on the surface of the Cu2O NWs and has four functions: (1) Sensitizer, with a band gap of 1.2 eV, for extending the range of optical absorption into the near-infrared region; (2) electron trapper, with appropriate energy level alignment to Cu2O, for achieving effective electron transfer and trapping; (3) electrocatalyst, with excellent electrocatalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction; and (4) protector, preventing direct contact between Cu2O and the electrolyte in order to significantly increase the stability. A photocathode based on the tetrafunctional Cu2S-coated Cu2O NWs exhibits significantly enhanced PEC performance and remarkably improved long-term stability under illumination. The present strategy, based on the in situ generation of multifunctional layers, opens a new avenue for the rational design of photocathodes for PEC water reduction.


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Electronic supplementary material
About this article

Tetrafunctional Cu2S thin layers on Cu2O nanowires for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting

Show Author's information Zhenzhen Li, Zhonghai Zhang( )
School of Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringEast China Normal UniversityShanghai200241China

Abstract

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting by photocathodes based on p-type semiconductors is a promising process for direct and efficient hydrogen generation. The identification of ideal photocathode materials with a high photoconversion efficiency and long-term stability is still a significant challenge. Herein, we propose a new photocathode consisting of Cu2S-coated Cu2O nanowires (NWs) supported on a three-dimensional porous copper foam. The Cu2S thin layer is generated in situ on the surface of the Cu2O NWs and has four functions: (1) Sensitizer, with a band gap of 1.2 eV, for extending the range of optical absorption into the near-infrared region; (2) electron trapper, with appropriate energy level alignment to Cu2O, for achieving effective electron transfer and trapping; (3) electrocatalyst, with excellent electrocatalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction; and (4) protector, preventing direct contact between Cu2O and the electrolyte in order to significantly increase the stability. A photocathode based on the tetrafunctional Cu2S-coated Cu2O NWs exhibits significantly enhanced PEC performance and remarkably improved long-term stability under illumination. The present strategy, based on the in situ generation of multifunctional layers, opens a new avenue for the rational design of photocathodes for PEC water reduction.

Keywords: cuprous oxide, cuprous sulfide, nanowire, photocathode, water reduction

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Publication history
Copyright
Acknowledgements

Publication history

Received: 22 May 2017
Revised: 10 July 2017
Accepted: 13 July 2017
Published: 02 February 2018
Issue date: March 2018

Copyright

© Tsinghua University Press and Springer‐Verlag GmbH Germany 2017

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

Z.H.Z. thanks to the support from "Yingcai" program of ECNU and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (No. 21405046).

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