Role of plasmonic Au nanoparticles embedded in the diamond-like carbon overlayer in the performance of CuFeO2 solar photocathodes

• Published in: Journal of solid state electrochemistry Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 1139 - 1150
• Main Authors: Aqaei, Fatemeh, Zare, Maryam, Shafiekhani, Azizollah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.04.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analytical Chemistry; Carrier recombination; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Charge transfer; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed Matter Physics; Current carriers; Deposition; Diamond-like carbon; Electrochemistry; Energy Storage; Gold; Hydrogen production; Nanoparticles; Optical properties; Original Paper; Photocathodes; Physical Chemistry; Plasmonics; CuFeO; DLC; LSPR; Photoelectrochemical performance
• ISSN: 1432-8488; 1433-0768
• DOI: 10.1007/s10008-020-04876-9

Delafossite CuFeO 2 (CFO) has attracted much attention as a candidate p-type photocathode for photoelectrochemical (PEC) solar hydrogen production. In this paper first, a detailed electrochemical study was carried out in order to determine the best potential range for the potentiostatic deposition of nanostructured CFO on FTO glass. The structural and morphological properties of prepared samples were characterized by XRD and FESEM. Optical and photoelectrochemical investigations show that the sample prepared at − 0.7 V exhibits the best optical properties, charge separation, and charge transfer among prepared samples. We also provided direct evidence of surface states as charge trapping centers cause carrier recombination and limit photovoltage and charge transfer at SCLJ (semiconductor/liquid junction). Deposition of plasmonic Au nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in the diamond-like carbon (DLC) scaffold on the surface of CuFeO 2 not only improved optical properties but also passivated these surface states and enhanced the PEC performance, consequently. Graphical abstract