DOI: https://doi.org/10.29363/nanoge.hfuture.2024.015
Publication date: 27th February 2024
In this talk I will speak about hydrogen generation via photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic water splitting. I will mainly focus on copper oxide (Cu 2 O), synthesized through the thermal oxidation of copper foils. Through the utilization of capacitance-based methods, we investigate the effects of an etching treatment on cuprous oxide, resulting in a noteworthy performance improvement and setting a new performance record. The orientation of millimeter-sized single crystal grains, discernible to the naked eye due to selective etching and optical effects on various facets, facilitates the evaluation of crystal orientation's impact on the photocathodes. The results reveal that high index crystal orientations consistently demonstrate statistically superior performance compared to low index facets, and the underlying reasons for this enhancement will be discussed. To conclude, I will discuss how studies on thin films can contribute to the advancement of photocatalytic particles, presenting disruptive potential in the green hydrogen domain.