Solution-Processed Cu2S Photocathodes for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

Yu Xiang Yu; Linfeng Pan; Min Kyu Son; Matthew T. Mayer; Wei De Zhang; Anders Hagfeldt; Jingshan Luo; Michael Grätzel

doi:10.1021/acsenergylett.7b01326

Solution-Processed Cu₂S Photocathodes for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

Yu Xiang Yu, Linfeng Pan, Min Kyu Son, Matthew T. Mayer, Wei De Zhang, Anders Hagfeldt, Jingshan Luo, Michael Grätzel

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

78 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Cu₂S has been regarded as a promising solar energy conversion material because of its favorable visible light absorption and earth abundance. Here, we present an indirect preparation method via a solution-processed ion exchange reaction to synthesize stoichiometric Cu₂S films with high photoactivity. In addition, we developed a chemical bath deposition method to fabricate CdS buffer layers on Cu₂S by adding a reducing agent in the precursor solution, avoiding oxidation of Cu₂S. After being coated with the TiO₂ protection layer and the RuO_x hydrogen evolution catalyst, the Cu₂S photoelectrode delivers a photocurrent density of 7.0 mA cm^-2 at -0.3 V vs RHE and an onset potential of 0.48 V vs RHE under AM 1.5G simulated sunlight illumination for solar driven water reduction. To our knowledge, this is the first time that Cu₂S has been used for solar hydrogen evolution with encouraging performance, which will stimulate further studies on Cu-based photocathodes.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	760-766
Number of pages	7
Journal	ACS Energy Letters
Volume	3
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.7b01326
Publication status	Published - Apr 13 2018

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Chemistry (miscellaneous)
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Fuel Technology
Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Materials Chemistry

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1021/acsenergylett.7b01326

Cite this

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title = "Solution-Processed Cu2S Photocathodes for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting",

abstract = "Cu2S has been regarded as a promising solar energy conversion material because of its favorable visible light absorption and earth abundance. Here, we present an indirect preparation method via a solution-processed ion exchange reaction to synthesize stoichiometric Cu2S films with high photoactivity. In addition, we developed a chemical bath deposition method to fabricate CdS buffer layers on Cu2S by adding a reducing agent in the precursor solution, avoiding oxidation of Cu2S. After being coated with the TiO2 protection layer and the RuOx hydrogen evolution catalyst, the Cu2S photoelectrode delivers a photocurrent density of 7.0 mA cm-2 at -0.3 V vs RHE and an onset potential of 0.48 V vs RHE under AM 1.5G simulated sunlight illumination for solar driven water reduction. To our knowledge, this is the first time that Cu2S has been used for solar hydrogen evolution with encouraging performance, which will stimulate further studies on Cu-based photocathodes.",

author = "Yu, {Yu Xiang} and Linfeng Pan and Son, {Min Kyu} and Mayer, {Matthew T.} and Zhang, {Wei De} and Anders Hagfeldt and Jingshan Luo and Michael Gr{\"a}tzel",

note = "Funding Information: Y.-X.Y. thanks the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities for financial support. J.L. and M.T.M. acknowledge the PEC-House3 project funded by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy under Contract No. SI/500090-03. M.G. acknowledges the European Union{\textquoteright}s Horizon 2020 programme, through a FET Open research and innovation action under Grant Agreement No 687008. L.P. and A.H. acknowledge the National Research Programme “Energy Turnaround” (NRP 70) of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).",

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AU - Yu, Yu Xiang

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AU - Mayer, Matthew T.

AU - Zhang, Wei De

AU - Hagfeldt, Anders

AU - Luo, Jingshan

AU - Grätzel, Michael

N1 - Funding Information: Y.-X.Y. thanks the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities for financial support. J.L. and M.T.M. acknowledge the PEC-House3 project funded by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy under Contract No. SI/500090-03. M.G. acknowledges the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme, through a FET Open research and innovation action under Grant Agreement No 687008. L.P. and A.H. acknowledge the National Research Programme “Energy Turnaround” (NRP 70) of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).

PY - 2018/4/13

Y1 - 2018/4/13

N2 - Cu2S has been regarded as a promising solar energy conversion material because of its favorable visible light absorption and earth abundance. Here, we present an indirect preparation method via a solution-processed ion exchange reaction to synthesize stoichiometric Cu2S films with high photoactivity. In addition, we developed a chemical bath deposition method to fabricate CdS buffer layers on Cu2S by adding a reducing agent in the precursor solution, avoiding oxidation of Cu2S. After being coated with the TiO2 protection layer and the RuOx hydrogen evolution catalyst, the Cu2S photoelectrode delivers a photocurrent density of 7.0 mA cm-2 at -0.3 V vs RHE and an onset potential of 0.48 V vs RHE under AM 1.5G simulated sunlight illumination for solar driven water reduction. To our knowledge, this is the first time that Cu2S has been used for solar hydrogen evolution with encouraging performance, which will stimulate further studies on Cu-based photocathodes.

AB - Cu2S has been regarded as a promising solar energy conversion material because of its favorable visible light absorption and earth abundance. Here, we present an indirect preparation method via a solution-processed ion exchange reaction to synthesize stoichiometric Cu2S films with high photoactivity. In addition, we developed a chemical bath deposition method to fabricate CdS buffer layers on Cu2S by adding a reducing agent in the precursor solution, avoiding oxidation of Cu2S. After being coated with the TiO2 protection layer and the RuOx hydrogen evolution catalyst, the Cu2S photoelectrode delivers a photocurrent density of 7.0 mA cm-2 at -0.3 V vs RHE and an onset potential of 0.48 V vs RHE under AM 1.5G simulated sunlight illumination for solar driven water reduction. To our knowledge, this is the first time that Cu2S has been used for solar hydrogen evolution with encouraging performance, which will stimulate further studies on Cu-based photocathodes.

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