Facet-dependent carrier dynamics of cuprous oxide regulating the photocatalytic hydrogen generation

Cui Ying Toe; Marlene Lamers; Thomas Dittrich; Hassan A. Tahini; Sean C. Smith; Jason Scott; Rose Amal; Roel van de Krol; Fatwa F. Abdi; Yun Hau Ng

doi:10.1039/d1ma00934f

Facet-dependent carrier dynamics of cuprous oxide regulating the photocatalytic hydrogen generation

Cui Ying Toe
, Marlene Lamers
, Thomas Dittrich
, Hassan A. Tahini
, Sean C. Smith
, Jason Scott
, Rose Amal
, Roel van de Krol
, Fatwa F. Abdi^*
, Yun Hau Ng^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Energy and Environment

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

42 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars)

Abstract

The intrinsic carrier dynamics of cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) are known to have a crucial influence on photocatalytic performances. The photoactivity of rhombic dodecahedral Cu₂O with dominant {110} facets (RD-Cu₂O) is demonstrated to surpass that of cubic Cu₂O with {100} surfaces (CB-Cu₂O). Time resolved microwave conductivity (TRMC) measurements reveal the higher carrier mobility of RD-Cu₂O when compared to CB-Cu₂O. Additionally, modulated surface photovoltage (SPV) measurements further supported the better charge separation efficiency of RD-Cu₂O. Although CB-Cu₂O exhibited more pronounce SPV signals, the homogeneous distribution of electrical fields drives the majority charge inward and led to detrimental charge recombination. In contrast, the weak SPV signals for RD-Cu₂O were attributed to a modulated distribution of charges towards the facets and facet boundaries, demonstrating a better charge separation. This study shows that carrier dynamics and defect density should also be regarded as facet-dependent properties that can have deciding influence on the photocatalytic activity.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2200-2212
Journal	Materials Advances
Volume	3
Issue number	4
Online published	21 Jan 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1039/d1ma00934f
Publication status	Published - 21 Feb 2022

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Australian Research Council Discovery Project (DP180102540) and Hong Kong General Research Fund (GRF11305419 and GRF11306920). The authors appreciate the facility and technical support provided by the UNSW Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Research Keywords

CU2O CRYSTALS
SHAPE EVOLUTION
ELECTRON
TIO2
SEMICONDUCTORS
PHOTOVOLTAGE
SEPARATION
PARTICLES
NANOWIRES
TRANSPORT

Publisher's Copyright Statement

This full text is made available under CC-BY-NC 3.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/

RGC Funding Information

RGC-funded

Access Output

10.1039/d1ma00934f

95855020.pdfFinal Published version, 5.49 MBLicence: CC BY-NC

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title = "Facet-dependent carrier dynamics of cuprous oxide regulating the photocatalytic hydrogen generation",

abstract = "The intrinsic carrier dynamics of cuprous oxide (Cu2O) are known to have a crucial influence on photocatalytic performances. The photoactivity of rhombic dodecahedral Cu2O with dominant \{110\} facets (RD-Cu2O) is demonstrated to surpass that of cubic Cu2O with \{100\} surfaces (CB-Cu2O). Time resolved microwave conductivity (TRMC) measurements reveal the higher carrier mobility of RD-Cu2O when compared to CB-Cu2O. Additionally, modulated surface photovoltage (SPV) measurements further supported the better charge separation efficiency of RD-Cu2O. Although CB-Cu2O exhibited more pronounce SPV signals, the homogeneous distribution of electrical fields drives the majority charge inward and led to detrimental charge recombination. In contrast, the weak SPV signals for RD-Cu2O were attributed to a modulated distribution of charges towards the facets and facet boundaries, demonstrating a better charge separation. This study shows that carrier dynamics and defect density should also be regarded as facet-dependent properties that can have deciding influence on the photocatalytic activity.",

keywords = "CU2O CRYSTALS, SHAPE EVOLUTION, ELECTRON, TIO2, SEMICONDUCTORS, PHOTOVOLTAGE, SEPARATION, PARTICLES, NANOWIRES, TRANSPORT",

author = "Toe, \{Cui Ying\} and Marlene Lamers and Thomas Dittrich and Tahini, \{Hassan A.\} and Smith, \{Sean C.\} and Jason Scott and Rose Amal and \{van de Krol\}, Roel and Abdi, \{Fatwa F.\} and Ng, \{Yun Hau\}",

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AU - Toe, Cui Ying

AU - Lamers, Marlene

AU - Dittrich, Thomas

AU - Tahini, Hassan A.

AU - Smith, Sean C.

AU - Scott, Jason

AU - Amal, Rose

AU - van de Krol, Roel

AU - Abdi, Fatwa F.

AU - Ng, Yun Hau

PY - 2022/2/21

Y1 - 2022/2/21

N2 - The intrinsic carrier dynamics of cuprous oxide (Cu2O) are known to have a crucial influence on photocatalytic performances. The photoactivity of rhombic dodecahedral Cu2O with dominant {110} facets (RD-Cu2O) is demonstrated to surpass that of cubic Cu2O with {100} surfaces (CB-Cu2O). Time resolved microwave conductivity (TRMC) measurements reveal the higher carrier mobility of RD-Cu2O when compared to CB-Cu2O. Additionally, modulated surface photovoltage (SPV) measurements further supported the better charge separation efficiency of RD-Cu2O. Although CB-Cu2O exhibited more pronounce SPV signals, the homogeneous distribution of electrical fields drives the majority charge inward and led to detrimental charge recombination. In contrast, the weak SPV signals for RD-Cu2O were attributed to a modulated distribution of charges towards the facets and facet boundaries, demonstrating a better charge separation. This study shows that carrier dynamics and defect density should also be regarded as facet-dependent properties that can have deciding influence on the photocatalytic activity.

AB - The intrinsic carrier dynamics of cuprous oxide (Cu2O) are known to have a crucial influence on photocatalytic performances. The photoactivity of rhombic dodecahedral Cu2O with dominant {110} facets (RD-Cu2O) is demonstrated to surpass that of cubic Cu2O with {100} surfaces (CB-Cu2O). Time resolved microwave conductivity (TRMC) measurements reveal the higher carrier mobility of RD-Cu2O when compared to CB-Cu2O. Additionally, modulated surface photovoltage (SPV) measurements further supported the better charge separation efficiency of RD-Cu2O. Although CB-Cu2O exhibited more pronounce SPV signals, the homogeneous distribution of electrical fields drives the majority charge inward and led to detrimental charge recombination. In contrast, the weak SPV signals for RD-Cu2O were attributed to a modulated distribution of charges towards the facets and facet boundaries, demonstrating a better charge separation. This study shows that carrier dynamics and defect density should also be regarded as facet-dependent properties that can have deciding influence on the photocatalytic activity.

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KW - TIO2

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KW - PHOTOVOLTAGE

KW - SEPARATION

KW - PARTICLES

KW - NANOWIRES

KW - TRANSPORT

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JF - Materials Advances

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ER -

Facet-dependent carrier dynamics of cuprous oxide regulating the photocatalytic hydrogen generation

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

RGC Funding Information

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GRF: Development of Nanostructured Photoelectrodes for Solar Water Splitting via Advanced Electrochemical-based Synthesis Techniques

GRF: Development of High-Efficiency Non-Tio2 Based Oxide Photocatalysts by Understanding the Underlying Photocorrosion Phenomena

Cite this

Facet-dependent carrier dynamics of cuprous oxide regulating the photocatalytic hydrogen generation

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

RGC Funding Information

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

Fingerprint

Projects

GRF: Development of Nanostructured Photoelectrodes for Solar Water Splitting via Advanced Electrochemical-based Synthesis Techniques

GRF: Development of High-Efficiency Non-Tio2 Based Oxide Photocatalysts by Understanding the Underlying Photocorrosion Phenomena

Cite this