Preparation of Highly-Functional Photocathodes for Water Reduction Using a Photo-Induced Crystallization Process

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25870254
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Material processing/Microstructural control engineering; Inorganic industrial materials
• Research Institution: Nagaoka University of Technology
• Principal Investigator: NISHIKAWA MASAMI 長岡技術科学大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (20622393)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 光電極 / エキシマレーザー / 水還元 / 光電流 / 光触媒 / Cu2O

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To prevent photocorrosion of Cu2O photocathodes for water reduction, a composite technique of crystalline TiO2 layers for reaction stabilization has been desired. In a usual furnace heating process, Cu2O was oxidized to CuO which was inactive for water reduction during the crystallization reaction of TiO2. In contrast, We successfully prepared the crystalline TiO2 layer on the Cu2O photocathode without the generation of inactive CuO phase using an excimer laser assisted metal organic deposition process. For the TiO2/Cu2O photocathodes obtained, photoexcited electrons in the Cu2O can easily transfer to the TiO2 layer, resulting in the prevention of photocorrosion. We demonstrated that this composite technique can be applicable for any kinds of photoelectrodes to raise their reaction stabilization because the TiO2 stabilization layer alone can be crystallized with no heat damage to the materials of the photoelectrode unlike the furnace heating process.

Free Research Field

無機工業材料