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Photocorrosion of Cuprous Oxide in Hydrogen Production: Rationalising Self‐Oxidation or Self‐Reduction
Author(s) -
Toe Cui Ying,
Zheng Zhaoke,
Wu Hao,
Scott Jason,
Amal Rose,
Ng Yun Hau
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201807647
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , scavenger , oxide , copper , hydrogen production , copper oxide , hydrogen , redox , chemistry , photochemistry , metal , chemical engineering , catalysis , materials science , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , radical , engineering
Cuprous Oxide (Cu 2 O) is a photocatalyst with severe photocorrosion issues. Theoretically, it can undergo both self‐oxidation (to form copper oxide (CuO)) and self‐reduction (to form metallic copper (Cu)) upon illumination with the aid of photoexcited charges. There is, however, limited experimental understanding of the “dominant” photocorrosion pathway. Both photocorrosion modes can be regulated by tailoring the conditions of the photocatalytic reactions. Photooxidation of Cu 2 O (in the form of a suspension system), accompanied by corroded morphology, is kinetically favourable and is the prevailing deactivation pathway. With knowledge of the dominant deactivation mode of Cu 2 O, suppression of self‐photooxidation together with enhancement in its overall photocatalytic performance can be achieved after a careful selection of sacrificial hole (h + ) scavenger. In this way, stable hydrogen (H 2 ) production can be attained without the need for deposition of secondary components.