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Thiol‐Amine‐Based Solution Processing of Cu 2 S Thin Films for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
Author(s) -
Zhang Xi,
Yang Wooseok,
Niu Wenzhe,
Adams Pardis,
Siol Sebastian,
Wang Zhenbin,
Tilley S. David
Publication year - 2021
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.202101347
Subject(s) - thin film , photocathode , photocurrent , water splitting , materials science , chemical engineering , hydrogen production , dissolution , photoelectrochemical cell , catalysis , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , nanotechnology , electrolyte , electrode , organic chemistry , optoelectronics , physics , quantum mechanics , photocatalysis , engineering , electron
Cu 2 S is a promising solar energy conversion material owing to its good optical properties, elemental earth abundance, and low cost. However, simple and cheap methods to prepare phase‐pure and photo‐active Cu 2 S thin films are lacking. This study concerns the development of a cost‐effective and high‐throughput method that consists of dissolving high‐purity commercial Cu 2 S powder in a thiol‐amine solvent mixture followed by spin coating and low‐temperature annealing to obtain phase‐pure crystalline low chalcocite Cu 2 S thin films. After coupling with a CdS buffer layer, a TiO 2 protective layer and a RuO x hydrogen evolution catalyst, the champion Cu 2 S photocathode gives a photocurrent density of 2.5 mA cm −2 at −0.3 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (V RHE ), an onset potential of 0.42 V RHE , and high stability over 12 h in pH 7 buffer solution under AM1.5 G simulated sunlight illumination (100 mW cm −2 ). This is the first thiol‐amine‐based ink deposition strategy to prepare phase‐pure Cu 2 S thin films achieving decent photoelectrochemical performance, which will facilitate its future scalable application for solar‐driven hydrogen fuel production.