Amorphous TiO2-modified CuBi2O4 Photocathode with enhanced photoelectrochemical hydrogen production activity

In this study, CuBi2O4 photocathodes were prepared using a simple electrodeposition method for photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen production. The prepared photocathodes were modified with amorphous TiO2 and a Pt co-catalyst, which resulted in the formation of CuBi2O4/TiO2 p-n hetero-junctions, and enhanced the activities of the as-prepared photocathodes. The novel Pt/TiO2/CuBi2O4 photocathode exhibited a photocurrent of 0.35 mA/cm(2) at 0.60 V vs. Reversible Hydrogen Electrode (RHE), which was nearly twice that of the Pt/CuBi2O4 photocathode. The present study provides a facile method for increasing the efficiency of photocathodes and provides meaningful guidance for the preparation of high-performance CuBi2O4 photocathodes. (C) 2018, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.