A Novel Nano-Pore Stainless Steel Film Modified by Cu@CuO/Cu₂O Semiconductor Heterojunction for Photoelectrocatalytic Activity and Semiconductor Characteristics

Abstract

A novel nano-pore stainless steel film(NPSSF) with high surface area, good conductivity and low value is fabricated as the substrate by electrochemical method, and Cu/CuO/Cu2O heterojunction photocatalyst is successfully deposited on NPSSF. The Cu/CuO/Cu2O/ NPSSF shows marked photocatalytic activity in PEC of hydrogen production by water splitting and photocurrent response features under visible light irradiation. In addition, Pt nanoparticles modified on the heterojunction surface increases the carrier density, promotes electron/hole separation and demonstrates the lowest flat band potential for 0.38 V(SCE). The current density of the Cu/CuO/Cu2O heterojunction photocatalyst modified by Pt on the NPSSF is about two times that on ITO at the potential of −0.4 V(SCE). The narrowband gaps of Pt/Cu/CuO/Cu2O/NPSSF heterojunction are calculated and ensure its wide absorption band in the visible region. It is discussed that the photoelectrocatalytic mechanism of this newly developed photocatalyst by water splitting. The recovery photocatalyst of Pt/Cu/CuO/Cu2O/NPSSF could solve the expensive separation processes and recovery difficulties of powders and nanoparticles photocatalysts.

Copper Oxide-Based Photocatalysts and Photocathodes: Fundamentals and Recent Advances

“…The cocatalysts can be classified into two roles: the cocatalyst trapping electrons for reduction half reactions (e.g., reduction of H 2 O or CO 2 ) and the cocatalyst trapping holes for oxidation half reactions (e.g., oxidation of H 2 O or organic species). In general, noble metals (e.g., Pt, Pd, Rh and Au, Ru) [ 39 , 48 , 236 , 237 , 238 , 239 , 240 ], non-noble transition metals (e.g., Cu, Zn, Al, Co and Ni) [ 184 , 241 , 242 , 243 , 244 , 245 ], metal oxides (RuO 2 , NiO x, Bi 2 O 3 ) [ 80 , 190 , 246 , 247 , 248 ] and metal sulfides (e.g., ZnS, MoS 2 , NiS, Ag 2 S, and WS 2 ) [ 187 , 245 , 249 , 250 , 251 ] were reported as cocatalysts deposited on CuO and/or Cu 2 O.…”

New Insights into Cu/Cu2O/CuO Nanocomposite Heterojunction Facilitating Photocatalytic Generation of Green Fuel and Detoxification of Organic Pollutants

“…Based on the estimation of band position values, electron transmission is possible between CB of Cu 2 O and CB of NiO. These electrons are subsequently transported to CuO’s CB for further chemical reaction. − The electrons further migrate to the interface for water splitting to form hydrogen, which has been expressed in the following eqs –. The development of the heterojunction between the CuO and Cu 2 O phases in the photocatalyst nanocomposite also boosted the lifetime of the excitons due to the segregation of electrons and holes, resulting in increased photocatalytic activity, as observed through photoluminescence spectra.…”

Photocatalytic CO2 Conversion Using Anodic TiO2 Nanotube-CuxO Composites

“…This leads to the bending of energy bands in semiconductors (Figure 4). The band edges positions of copper oxides are indicated according data in the literature [18,33,38].…”

“…This leads to the bending of energy bands in semiconductors (Figure 4). The band edges positions of copper oxides are indicated according data in the literature [18,33,38]. As a result of the band-bending, the conduction band potential in TiO2 becomes more positive than the reduction potential for the reaction (2).…”