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p‐CuInS 2 /n‐Polymer Semiconductor Heterojunction for Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Evolution
Author(s) -
Chae Sang Youn,
Lee Myeongjae,
Je Kim Min,
Cho Jeong Ho,
Kim BongSoo,
Joo OhShim
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.202002123
Subject(s) - heterojunction , photocurrent , semiconductor , dielectric spectroscopy , electrochemistry , materials science , polymer , photoelectrochemical cell , band gap , chemistry , optoelectronics , electrode , electrolyte , composite material
An inorganic p‐type CuInS 2 semiconductor was combined with the semiconducting polymer of PNDI3OT‐Se1 and PNDI3OT‐Se2 with different HOMO/LUMO levels for photoelectrochemical hydrogen production. Charge transfer behaviors at polymer/CuInS 2 junctions were investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The heterojunction of p‐CuInS 2 and n‐type polymer (both PNDI3OT‐Se1 and Se2) successfully made p‐n junctions and showed improved charge transfer. However, we found that higher HOMO levels of polymer than valence band maximum (VBM) of CuInS 2 spurred charge recombination at interfaces. As a result, CuInS 2 /PNDI3OT‐Se1/TiO 2 /Pt, which has suitable energy levels matched between PNDI3OT‐Se1 and CuInS 2 , shows photocurrent (−15.67 mA cm −2 ) improved concretely when compared to a CuInS 2 /TiO 2 /Pt photoelectrode (−7.11 mA cm −2 ) at 0.0 V vs. RHE applied potential. Additionally, the photoelectrochemical stability of CuInS 2 /PNDI3OT‐Se1/TiO 2 /Pt photoelectrode was also investigated.