Ni-core CuO-shell fibers produced by electrospinning and electroplating as efficient photocathode materials for solar water splitting

Nanoscale
Hong Seok JoSam S Yoon

Abstract

Charge recombination in CuO photocathodes inhibits efficient electron flow and limits the photo-electrochemical performance of these cathodes for solar water splitting. To circumvent this shortcoming, we introduce highly conductive Ni/CuO core-shell structured fibers. The photocurrent density (PCD) achieved with these core-shell fibers exceeded that of fibers without a Ni core by a factor of 2.6. The PCD enhancement arises from increased acceptor concentration and electron-hole recombination time, as measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. These core-shell nanofibers were fabricated via electrospinning and electroplating. First, a polyacrylonitrile fiber was electrospun and then seeded with metal via sputtering. Second, electroplating was used to encase and metalize the fiber with Ni and Cu. Finally, the outermost Cu shell was oxidized to CuO, which is an effective photocathode for solar water splitting. The Ni-CuO, core-shell layers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, elemental mapping, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The core Ni content and number of core-shell fibers per area were optimized through parametric studies.

References

Dec 15, 2006·The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B·Qing WangHachiro Imai
Apr 6, 2012·Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter : an Institute of Physics Journal·Dahlang Tahir, Sven Tougaard
Oct 31, 2014·Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP·Yee-Fun LimDongzhi Chi
May 28, 2015·Angewandte Chemie·Jinshui Zhang, Xinchen Wang
Jun 24, 2017·Chemical Society Reviews·Chaoran JiangJunwang Tang

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Citations

Sep 28, 2018·Dalton Transactions : an International Journal of Inorganic Chemistry·Shi-Fang DuanDong-Dong Qin
Apr 18, 2019·Dalton Transactions : an International Journal of Inorganic Chemistry·Atul VermaYen-Pei Fu
Jun 13, 2021·Advanced Materials·Roozbeh Siavash MoakharMichael Saliba

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