Designed Synthesis Of CuBi₂O₄-based Catalyst For Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Evolution Research

Environmental pollution and energy crisis has become the two major problems to restrict the human social development.Photoelectrochemical?PEC?hydrogen evolution can easily convert solar energy into easy-stored clean energy-hydrogen,which is considered one of the most promising methods.The photocathode materials require an appropriate band gap?1.5-2.4 eV?to absorb most of the sunlight,good chemical and physical stability,high abundance of earth content and low cost of synthesis.In recent years,CuBi₂O₄ has been considered as one of the effective materials for PEC hydrogen evolution due to its sufficiently narrow direct band gap?1.8 eV?,suitable edge location and low cost.However,the low mobility of the charge carriers,slow reaction kinetics,poor photoelectric conversion efficiency and instability caused by self-photocorrosion when contacting with the electrolyte solution limit its application in PEC water spitting.Design and synthesis of highly active and stable CuBi₂O₄-based photocathode materials become one of the hottest topics.The main contents of this paper include the following three parts.1.The porous 3D CuBi₂O₄ thin film was prepared by template method and thermal oxidation method,and the CuBi₂O₄/PTh p-n heterojunction composite photocathode was prepared by photoreduction method.The PEC hydrogen generation performance was studied.2.The Au-nanoparticle-modified CuBi₂O₄ thin film was prepared by thermal oxidation and photoreduction method,and then encapsulated by nitrogen-copper double-doped carbon film?N,Cu-C?.The hydrogen evolution properties and stability of the composites were studied.3.The multi-wall carbon nanotubes?MWCNTs?modified CuBi₂O₄ thin film was prepared by thermal oxidation and spin coating,and then encapsulated by nitrogen-nickel double-doped carbon films?N,Ni-C?.The hydrogen evolution properties of the composites were studied..The results of the PEC test show that the above materials have excellent PEC activities?including large cathode photocurrent density,high photoelectric conversion efficiency?and good stability.It laid a good foundation for the design and synthesis of photocathode materials.