Electrodeposition of cuprous oxide on a porous copper framework for an improved photoelectrochemical performance

Abstract Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting can be an efficient and economically feasible alternative for hydrogen production if easily processed photoelectrodes made of inexpensive abundant materials are employed. Here, we present the preparation porous Cu 2 O photocathodes with good PEC performance using solely electrodeposition methods. Firstly, structures delicate pore networks were deposited on flat substrates employing hydrogen-bubble-assisted deposition. In a second step, mechanically reinforced subsequently detached from to obtain free-standing frameworks. third final photoactive films electrodeposited. The in 0.5 M Na SO 4 (pH ?6) shows that these have photocurrents up ?2.25 mA cm ?2 at 0 V versus RHE while maintaining low dark current. contrast, sample showed only ?1.25 . This increase results significantly higher reactive surface area thin homogeneous layer small grain sizes therefore hole concentrations as determined by Mott-Schottky analysis. samples show direct optical transmittance 23% (? = 400–800 nm) used tandem photoanode full cells. Graphical abstract