Maneuvering cuprous oxide-based photocathodes for solar-to-fuel conversion

• Published in: Coordination chemistry reviews Vol. 477; p. 214948
• Main Authors: Li, Shen, Mo, Qiao-Ling, Xiao, Yang, Xiao, Fang-Xing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.02.2023
• Subjects: Cu2O; PEC; Photocatalytic CO2 reduction; Photocatalytic Water Splitting; Photocathode; Photocatalytic Water Splitting; Photocatalytic CO2 reduction; Photocathode; PEC; Cu2O
• ISSN: 0010-8545; 1873-3840
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2022.214948

The latest progress on cuprous oxide based photocathodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting and CO2 reduction is comprehensively overviewed in conjunction with insightful future perspective and outlook. [Display omitted] •Principles for crafting Cu2O-based photocathodes are elucidated.•Latest developments of Cu2O-based photosystems are recapitulated.•Structure-performance correlation of Cu2O-based heterostructures is unleashed. Cuprous oxide (Cu2O)-based photocathodes have been attracting enduring interest for green and sustainable solar fuel production by solar-driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting and CO2 reduction reactions. Although Cu2O is featured by the theoretically outstanding photoactivity owing to the favorable band-gap and appropriate band alignment, wide-spread utilization of Cu2O is largely hampered by its severe photo-corrosion and difficulty in charge transfer/separation modulation, hence rendering fabricating robust, stable and high-efficiency Cu2O-based photoelectrodes a continuously challenging issue. In this review, fundamentals of PEC reactions including water splitting and CO2 reduction are concisely elucidated, and then diverse strategies for constructing a large variety of quintessential Cu2O-based photocathodes are comprehensively summarized. Subsequently, predominant Cu2O-based photocathodes currently being extensively explored in PEC water splitting and CO2 reduction reactions are specifically introduced. Finally, future perspective and outlook of Cu2O-based photocathodes in these two booming research fields are forecasted. Our review could provide enriched information on rational design and utilization of Cu2O-based photocathodes for solar fuel production.