Engineering a Cu2O/NiO/Cu2MoS4 hybrid photocathode for H2 generation in water

Abstract

We report a scalable process for fabricating a multiple-layer hybrid photocathode, namely Cu2O/NiO/Cu2MoS4, for H2 generation in water. In pH 5 solution and under 1 sun illumination, the photocathode showed interesting photocatalytic properties. The onset photocurrent was recorded at +0.45 V vs. RHE, while at 0 V vs. RHE, a photocurrent density of 1.25 mA cm?2 was obtained. It was found that the NiO interlayer enhances charge transfer from the Cu2O light harvester to the Cu2MoS4 hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalyst which in turn accelerates charge transfer at the electrode/electrolyte interface, and therefore improves the photocatalytic properties of the Cu2O photocathode.