Plasmon‐Assisted Operando Self‐Healing of Cu₂O Photocathodes

Aaron Michael Ross; Debora Ruiz‐Martinez; Gian Andrea Rizzi; Francesco Cianciaruso; Alessandro Patelli; Marco Salerno; Fabian Schmitz; Enrico Napolitani; Sergio Marras; Mirko Prato; Silvia Gross; Gaudenzio Meneghesso; Rebeca Marcilla; Francesco Scotognella; Teresa Gatti; Francesco Lamberti

doi:10.1002/adsu.202200397

journal article·2023-03

Plasmon‐Assisted Operando Self‐Healing of Cu₂O Photocathodes

Aaron Michael Ross, Debora Ruiz‐Martinez, Gian Andrea Rizzi, Francesco Cianciaruso, Alessandro Patelli, Marco Salerno, Fabian Schmitz, Enrico Napolitani, Sergio Marras, Mirko Prato, Silvia Gross, Gaudenzio Meneghesso, Rebeca Marcilla, Francesco Scotognella, Teresa Gatti, Francesco Lamberti

Advanced Sustainable Systems· Volume 7· Issue 3

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Source abstract

Abstract

Abstract The ongoing problems in western countries connected to the global energy supply urgently force the research community to strive in finding new methodologies for boosting the functional properties of earth‐abundant raw materials, for example, the largely available cupreous oxide. In this work, the authors focus on the surface sensitization of this metal oxide semiconductor with an argon plasma treatment, that promotes, during photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution, the formation of metallic copper nanostructures. Interestingly, these copper‐based hierarchical nano‐branches, having inherent plasmonic properties, are at the origin of the improved shelf‐life of the modified Cu₂O photocathode, as is demonstrated by advanced structural and photophysical analyses. This proposed photophysical mechanism for an operando electrode stabilization suggests that a self‐healing process can occur within the Cu₂O/plasmonic Cu heterostructure. These findings pave the way to the implementation of new, easy‐to‐make strategies to improve the properties of low‐cost, low‐toxicity energy materials.

Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

Nanomaterials Electronic materials

OpenAlex topics: Copper-based nanomaterials and applications · ZnO doping and properties · Electronic and Structural Properties of Oxides

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Physics Politecnico di Milano Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32 20133 Milano Italy

Electrochemical Processes Unit IMDEA Energy Avenida Ramón de la Sagra 3 Móstoles 28935 Madrid Spain

Department of Chemical Sciences University of Padova via Marzolo 1 35131 Padova Italy

Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Padova via Marzolo 8 35131 Padova Italy

Materials Characterization Facility Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Via Morego 30 16163 Genova Italy

Center for Materials Research Justus Liebig University Heinrich‐Buff‐Ring 17 35392 Giessen Germany

Centro Interdipartimentale Levi Cases via Marzolo 8 35131 Padova Italy

Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) Institut für Technische Chemie und Polymerchemie (ITCP) Engesserstr. 20 76131 Karlsruhe Germany

Department of Information Engineering University of Padova Via Gradenigo 6/B 35131 Padova Italy

Department of Applied Science and Technology Politecnico di Torino C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24 10129 Torino Italy

Zhejiang Beisheng Photovoltaic Co., Ltd. No.800 Zhenbei Road, Zhili Town, Wuxing District Huzhou Zhejiang 313000 China

Funding

Horizon 2020 Framework Programme

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