CuFeO2/Cu Photoelectrode Modified with SrTiO3 Perovskite for Efficient Hydrogen Generation from Sanitation Water

We prepared a perovskite material, copper-doped strontium titanate (Cu-SrTiO3), using the chemical bath deposition method and cast it on a CuFeO2/Cu photoelectrode to generate hydrogen from sanitation water splitting. This preparation method considers a simple mass product and does not depend on complex techniques. The prepared perovskite materials had a compact nano-/ microstructure. Both CuFeO2 and Cu-SrTiO3/CuFeO2 exhibited excellent optical properties, with bandgap values of 1.4 and 1.26 eV, respectively. Here, the prepared CuFeO2 and Cu-SrTiO3 thin films are used as photoelectrodes for hydrogen generation, and their current-voltage relationship is analyzed under various conditions, such as different light intensities, wavelengths, and temperatures. This approach is promising for using wastewater as a source of hydrogen gas without requiring any additional electrolyte, making it a dual-purpose approach for both hydrogen generation and wastewater treatment. Through the electrochemical study, increasing the light intensity from 25 to 100 mW.cm(-2) resulted in a corresponding increase in the produced Jph values from -1.02 to -1.292 mA.cm(-2). Similarly, the Jph values increased from -1.25 to -1.91 mA.cm(-2) as the temperature increased from 30 to 70 degrees C. We also calculated all thermodynamic parameters, the quantum efficiency (QE), and incident photon to current conversion efficiency (IPCE). For the Cu-SrTiO3/CuFeO2/Cu photoelectrode, the activation energy (E-a) value was 14.14 kJ mol(-1), while the Delta H* and Delta S* values were 11.46 kJ center dot mol(-1) and 34.9 kJ(-1)center dot mol(-1), respectively. Additionally, the IPCE value was 3.31%. The prepared photoelectrode showed high stability and low cost, making it a potential candidate for industrial applications.

Automated summary

We prepared copper-doped strontium titanate (Cu-SrTiO3) perovskite material using a simple mass production method, and applied it as a coating on a CuFeO2/Cu photoelectrode for hydrogen generation from wastewater. The prepared perovskite materials had a compact nano-/microstructure and showed excellent optical properties. By analyzing the current-voltage relationship under different conditions, such as light intensity, wavelength, and temperature, we found that this approach has potential for both hydrogen generation and wastewater treatment without the need for additional electrolytes. The prepared photoelectrode exhibited high stability and low cost, making it a promising candidate for industrial applications.