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Cu2O photocathodes with band-tail states assisted hole transport for standalone solar water splitting

Author

Listed:
  • Linfeng Pan

    (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL))

  • Yuhang Liu

    (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL))

  • Liang Yao

    (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL))

  • Ren

    (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL))

  • Kevin Sivula

    (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL))

  • Michael Grätzel

    (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL))

  • Anders Hagfeldt

    (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL))

Abstract

Photoelectrochemical water splitting provides a promising solution for harvesting and storing solar energy. As the best-performing oxide photocathode, the Cu2O photocathode holds the performance rivaling that of many photovoltaic semiconductor-based photocathodes through continuous research and development. However, the state-of-the-art Cu2O photocathode employs gold as the back contact which can lead to considerable electron-hole recombination. Here, we present a Cu2O photocathode with overall improved performance, enabled by using solution-processed CuSCN as hole transport material. Two types of CuSCN with different structures are synthesized and carefully compared. Furthermore, detailed characterizations reveal that hole transport between Cu2O and CuSCN is assisted by band-tail states. Owing to the multiple advantages of applying CuSCN as the hole transport layer, a standalone solar water splitting tandem cell is built, delivering a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 4.55%. Finally, approaches towards more efficient dual-absorber tandems are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Linfeng Pan & Yuhang Liu & Liang Yao & Ren & Kevin Sivula & Michael Grätzel & Anders Hagfeldt, 2020. "Cu2O photocathodes with band-tail states assisted hole transport for standalone solar water splitting," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-13987-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13987-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Rui-Ting Gao & Jiangwei Zhang & Tomohiko Nakajima & Jinlu He & Xianhu Liu & Xueyuan Zhang & Lei Wang & Limin Wu, 2023. "Single-atomic-site platinum steers photogenerated charge carrier lifetime of hematite nanoflakes for photoelectrochemical water splitting," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Jinshui Cheng & Linxiao Wu & Jingshan Luo, 2023. "Improving the photovoltage of Cu2O photocathodes with dual buffer layers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Abderrahime Sekkat & Maciej Oskar Liedke & Viet Huong Nguyen & Maik Butterling & Federico Baiutti & Juan de Dios Sirvent Veru & Matthieu Weber & Laetitia Rapenne & Daniel Bellet & Guy Chichignoud & An, 2022. "Chemical deposition of Cu2O films with ultra-low resistivity: correlation with the defect landscape," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Hamdani, I.R. & Bhaskarwar, A.N., 2021. "Recent progress in material selection and device designs for photoelectrochemical water-splitting," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    5. Xu, Jintao & Chen, Fei & Deng, Chenggang, 2021. "Design and analysis of a novel multi-sectioned compound parabolic concentrator with multi-objective genetic algorithm," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    6. Bo Wu & Tuo Wang & Bin Liu & Huimin Li & Yunlong Wang & Shujie Wang & Lili Zhang & Shaokun Jiang & Chunlei Pei & Jinlong Gong, 2022. "Stable solar water splitting with wettable organic-layer-protected silicon photocathodes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.

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