The Fabrication of Cu2o/g-C3N4/WS2 Triple-Layered Photocathode for Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Evolution

摘要

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is an emerging hydrogen production technology by utilizing the solar light. This technology integrates in the same device both solar energy collection and water electrolysis. Both photo-active semiconductor and catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are necessary in this device. Cu2O is a direct Ptype semiconductor with a narrow band gap (～2.0 eV), which can be activated by the visible light. Moreover, Cu is a kind of earth abundant element, and the synthesis of Cu2O is facile. Cu2O is therefore one of the most promising lowcost photoactive semiconductor reported until now. However, the activity of bare Cu2O is still poor, and it is not stable towards chemical oxidants and light corrosion. Combing with other semiconductors (e.g. TiO2, ZnO) could improve the activity and stability of Cu2O effectively.