Open AccessPlasmonic enhanced Cu2O-Au-BFO photocathodes for solar hydrogen production
Author(s) -
Xiaorong Cheng,
Shoulin Gu,
Anthony Centeno,
Graham Dawson
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
scientific reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.24
H-Index - 213
ISSN - 2045-2322
DOI - 10.1038/s41598-019-41613-3
Subject(s) - photocurrent , materials science , heterojunction , photocathode , hydrogen production , optoelectronics , layer (electronics) , electrolyte , plasmon , reversible hydrogen electrode , poling , electron transfer , hydrogen , electrode , ferroelectricity , photochemistry , nanotechnology , electron , chemistry , working electrode , dielectric , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
A novel Cu 2 O-Au-BFO heterostructure photocathode was constructed which significantly improved the efficiency of photo-generated carrier transfer for solar hydrogen production. A BiFeO 3 (BFO) ferroelectric film was synthesized on top of a Cu 2 O layer by a sputtering process. The BFO layer acted to protect the Cu 2 O layer from photochemical corrosion, increasing photoelectrochemical (PEC) stability. The p–n heterojunction between Cu 2 O and BFO layers enhanced the PEC properties by suppressing charge recombination and improved interfacial charge transfer efficiency. When Cu 2 O and BFO are interfaced by Au Nanoparticles (NPs) the PEC performance was further enhanced, due to hot-electron transfer at the plasmonic resonance. After positive poling, the depolarization field across the whole volume of BFO film drove electrons into the electrolyte solution, inducing a significant anodic shift, V op of 1.01 V vs . RHE, together with a significantly enhanced photocurrent density of −91 μA/cm 2 at 0 V vs . RHE under 100 mW/cm 2 illumination. The mechanism was investigated through experimental and theoretivcal calculations.