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Li Y, Wu J, Zheng Y, Fan Y, Bian T, Fan X, Masendu SV, Xu J, Shao Z. Hydration deactivation mechanism of the 〈100〉 oriented cuprous oxide photocathodes in solar water splitting and the regenerated three-dimensional structure. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:1625-1629. [PMID: 38170902 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp04652d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Photocorrosion is the most ticklish problem of cuprous oxide (Cu2O), and it is widely assumed that the deactivation of Cu2O photocathodes in solar water splitting is caused by spontaneous oxidation-reduction (REDOX) reactions. However, this work shows that 〈100〉-oriented Cu2O photocathodes undergo a non-REDOX hydration deactivation mechanism. Briefly, water molecules are embedded in the Cu2O crystals at low potential under illumination and produce amorphous CuOH, which can be dehydrated at high potential to heal the Cu-O-Cu bonds and regenerate foamed Cu2O films with a three-dimensional skeleton structure. This study provides a new insight towards the protection and application of Cu2O photocathodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Li
- School of Energy and Power, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiating Wu
- School of Energy and Power, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Yuhe Zheng
- School of Energy and Power, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Yajing Fan
- School of Energy and Power, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Ting Bian
- School of Energy and Power, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Xinyu Fan
- School of Energy and Power, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Santana Vimbai Masendu
- School of Energy and Power, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Junhua Xu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zongping Shao
- WA School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering (WASM-MECE), Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
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