Abstract:
Hydrogen gas evolution was observed for the first time from a
photoelectrochemical cell using a n-type Cu20 photoelectrode
under visible light irradiation. Three-electrode configuration was
used in the photoelectrochemical cell to observe H2 evolution.
AgCl/Ag calomel electrode and a platinum plate were used as the
reference and counter electrodes, respectively. Fe2+/Fe3+ redox
couple was used as the electrolyte. H2 evolution was visible on the
platinum electrode in the photoelectrochemical cell.
p-Cu20 films were prepared on copper plates by heating in the air
at 850C° for 3min followed by rapid quenching in a 10’3 M
aqueous CuS04 solution. Continuous immersion of this plate in
the CuS04 solution after quenching, facilitates to form p-Cu20
crystallites on the surface of thermally grown p-Cu20 films.
Different sizes of crystallites were obtained controlling the length
immersion time, in the CuS04 solution. These films were
characterized by XRD, SEM, absorption spectra, photocurrent
action spectra, V-I characteristic curves and applying to p-CuSCN
sensitized photoelectrochemical cells from this study.
