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CuO photocathode-embedded semitransparent photoelectrochemical cell

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2016

Malkeshkumar Patel Open the ORCID record for Malkeshkumar Patel [Opens in a new window] ,
Hong-Sik Kim ,
Dipal B. Patel  and
Joondong Kim
Malkeshkumar Patel
Affiliation:
Photoelectric and Energy Device Application Lab (PEDAL) and Department of Electrical Engineering, Incheon National University, Incheon 406772, Republic of Korea
Hong-Sik Kim
Affiliation:
Photoelectric and Energy Device Application Lab (PEDAL) and Department of Electrical Engineering, Incheon National University, Incheon 406772, Republic of Korea
Dipal B. Patel
Affiliation:
Photoelectric and Energy Device Application Lab (PEDAL) and Department of Electrical Engineering, Incheon National University, Incheon 406772, Republic of Korea
Joondong Kim*
Affiliation:
Photoelectric and Energy Device Application Lab (PEDAL) and Department of Electrical Engineering, Incheon National University, Incheon 406772, Republic of Korea
*
a) Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

A semitransparent CuO film was applied for photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell to produce the record-high photocurrent (6.4 mA/cm2) for nanocrystalline monoclinic CuO photocathode. Large-scale affordable reactive-sputtering method was effectively formed Cu oxide films and sequential thermal processes efficiently controlled the Cu oxide phases with enhanced optical-transparency of Cu oxide films. Structural, physical, optical, and electrical properties of various Cu oxide films (CuO, Cu4O3, and Cu2O) were systematically investigated according to the sputtering condition and thermal processes. It was found that the energy band gap of CuO can be tuned from 1.7 to 1.9 eV by modulating the oxygen flow for reactive sputtering. Mott–Schottky analyses revealed the flat band potential close to the 0.96 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode and energy band edges of Cu oxide films. This state-of-the-art CuO photocathode would provide a strong potential for wide applications of the transparent PEC system of on-site energy generation.

Keywords

Cu oxidesemitransparentphotoelectrochemical cell
Type
Invited Papers
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 31 , Issue 20 , 28 October 2016 , pp. 3205 - 3213
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2016 

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