Electrodeposition of p-type Cu2O on n-type TiO2 nanosheet arrays for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting

This study synthesized p-type Cu2O using an electrodeposition method and firmly attached it to TiO2 nanosheets based on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates, forming a dense film that serves directly as a photoanode for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Characterization techniques suc...

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Main Authors: Lin Wang, Hai Yu, YaXin Wang, Chun Miao, QianQian Lei, XinPing Yao, XiaoChen Yao, Xin Wei, JianGuo Lv, Yan Xue, JingWen Zhang, SiWen Zhou, DanDan Qu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Electrochemistry Communications
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388248125001493
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author Lin Wang
Hai Yu
YaXin Wang
Chun Miao
QianQian Lei
XinPing Yao
XiaoChen Yao
Xin Wei
JianGuo Lv
Yan Xue
JingWen Zhang
SiWen Zhou
DanDan Qu
author_facet Lin Wang
Hai Yu
YaXin Wang
Chun Miao
QianQian Lei
XinPing Yao
XiaoChen Yao
Xin Wei
JianGuo Lv
Yan Xue
JingWen Zhang
SiWen Zhou
DanDan Qu
author_sort Lin Wang
collection DOAJ
description This study synthesized p-type Cu2O using an electrodeposition method and firmly attached it to TiO2 nanosheets based on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates, forming a dense film that serves directly as a photoanode for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Characterization techniques such as XRD, SEM, XPS, and UV–Vis confirmed the successful deposition of Cu2O on the TiO2 nanosheets, forming a p-n heterojunction structure. The incorporation of Cu2O effectively broadened the light absorption range of TiO2, with a cut-off wavelength red-shifting to 537 nm, enabling it to absorb more visible light. Photoelectrochemical tests showed that under illuminated unbiased conditions, the photocurrent density of Cu2O-TiO2 reached 0.3 mA/cm2, which is 7.5 times that of TiO2. After applying a small bias (0.5 V), the photocurrent density further increased to 2.1 mA/cm2, 5.2 times that under unbiased conditions, indicating that the introduction of electricity effectively accelerated the separation efficiency of photo-generated carriers. The Cu₂O-TiO₂ heterojunction exhibited significantly higher photocurrent density (measured by LSV) and charge transfer efficiency (evaluated by EIS) than pure TiO₂. This research provides new insights for PEC water splitting technology and serves as a reference for designing high-performance photocatalysts.
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publishDate 2025-09-01
publisher Elsevier
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spelling doaj-art-63cb79e48ffe480d9321656905131ea22025-08-20T04:02:50ZengElsevierElectrochemistry Communications1388-24812025-09-0117810800910.1016/j.elecom.2025.108009Electrodeposition of p-type Cu2O on n-type TiO2 nanosheet arrays for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splittingLin Wang0Hai Yu1YaXin Wang2Chun Miao3QianQian Lei4XinPing Yao5XiaoChen Yao6Xin Wei7JianGuo Lv8Yan Xue9JingWen Zhang10SiWen Zhou11DanDan Qu12School of Physics and Materials Engineering and Key Laboratory for Photoelectric Detection Science and Technology of Education Department of Anhui Province, Hefei Normal University, Hefei 230601, ChinaSchool of Physics and Materials Engineering and Key Laboratory for Photoelectric Detection Science and Technology of Education Department of Anhui Province, Hefei Normal University, Hefei 230601, China; Corresponding authors.School of Physics and Materials Engineering and Key Laboratory for Photoelectric Detection Science and Technology of Education Department of Anhui Province, Hefei Normal University, Hefei 230601, ChinaSchool of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Chizhou University, Chizhou 247000, Anhui, ChinaSchool of Physics and Materials Engineering and Key Laboratory for Photoelectric Detection Science and Technology of Education Department of Anhui Province, Hefei Normal University, Hefei 230601, ChinaSchool of Physics and Materials Engineering and Key Laboratory for Photoelectric Detection Science and Technology of Education Department of Anhui Province, Hefei Normal University, Hefei 230601, ChinaSchool of Physics and Materials Engineering and Key Laboratory for Photoelectric Detection Science and Technology of Education Department of Anhui Province, Hefei Normal University, Hefei 230601, ChinaSchool of Physics and Materials Engineering and Key Laboratory for Photoelectric Detection Science and Technology of Education Department of Anhui Province, Hefei Normal University, Hefei 230601, ChinaSchool of Physics and Materials Engineering and Key Laboratory for Photoelectric Detection Science and Technology of Education Department of Anhui Province, Hefei Normal University, Hefei 230601, China; Corresponding authors.School of Physics and Materials Engineering and Key Laboratory for Photoelectric Detection Science and Technology of Education Department of Anhui Province, Hefei Normal University, Hefei 230601, ChinaSchool of Physics and Materials Engineering and Key Laboratory for Photoelectric Detection Science and Technology of Education Department of Anhui Province, Hefei Normal University, Hefei 230601, ChinaSchool of Physics and Materials Engineering and Key Laboratory for Photoelectric Detection Science and Technology of Education Department of Anhui Province, Hefei Normal University, Hefei 230601, ChinaSchool of Physics and Materials Engineering and Key Laboratory for Photoelectric Detection Science and Technology of Education Department of Anhui Province, Hefei Normal University, Hefei 230601, ChinaThis study synthesized p-type Cu2O using an electrodeposition method and firmly attached it to TiO2 nanosheets based on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates, forming a dense film that serves directly as a photoanode for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Characterization techniques such as XRD, SEM, XPS, and UV–Vis confirmed the successful deposition of Cu2O on the TiO2 nanosheets, forming a p-n heterojunction structure. The incorporation of Cu2O effectively broadened the light absorption range of TiO2, with a cut-off wavelength red-shifting to 537 nm, enabling it to absorb more visible light. Photoelectrochemical tests showed that under illuminated unbiased conditions, the photocurrent density of Cu2O-TiO2 reached 0.3 mA/cm2, which is 7.5 times that of TiO2. After applying a small bias (0.5 V), the photocurrent density further increased to 2.1 mA/cm2, 5.2 times that under unbiased conditions, indicating that the introduction of electricity effectively accelerated the separation efficiency of photo-generated carriers. The Cu₂O-TiO₂ heterojunction exhibited significantly higher photocurrent density (measured by LSV) and charge transfer efficiency (evaluated by EIS) than pure TiO₂. This research provides new insights for PEC water splitting technology and serves as a reference for designing high-performance photocatalysts.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388248125001493Photoelectrochemical (PEC)Water splittingTiO2P-n heterojunctionCu2O
spellingShingle Lin Wang
Hai Yu
YaXin Wang
Chun Miao
QianQian Lei
XinPing Yao
XiaoChen Yao
Xin Wei
JianGuo Lv
Yan Xue
JingWen Zhang
SiWen Zhou
DanDan Qu
Electrodeposition of p-type Cu2O on n-type TiO2 nanosheet arrays for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting
Electrochemistry Communications
Photoelectrochemical (PEC)
Water splitting
TiO2
P-n heterojunction
Cu2O
title Electrodeposition of p-type Cu2O on n-type TiO2 nanosheet arrays for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting
title_full Electrodeposition of p-type Cu2O on n-type TiO2 nanosheet arrays for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting
title_fullStr Electrodeposition of p-type Cu2O on n-type TiO2 nanosheet arrays for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting
title_full_unstemmed Electrodeposition of p-type Cu2O on n-type TiO2 nanosheet arrays for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting
title_short Electrodeposition of p-type Cu2O on n-type TiO2 nanosheet arrays for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting
title_sort electrodeposition of p type cu2o on n type tio2 nanosheet arrays for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting
topic Photoelectrochemical (PEC)
Water splitting
TiO2
P-n heterojunction
Cu2O
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388248125001493
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