Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production by Screen-Printed Copper Oxide Electrodes

Angela Gondolini, Nicola Sangiorgi, Alex Sangiorgi and Alessandra Sanson
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Angela Gondolini: Institute of Science and Technology for Ceramics (ISTEC) of the National Research Council (CNR), Via Granarolo 64, 48018 Faenza, Italy
Nicola Sangiorgi: Institute of Science and Technology for Ceramics (ISTEC) of the National Research Council (CNR), Via Granarolo 64, 48018 Faenza, Italy
Alex Sangiorgi: Institute of Science and Technology for Ceramics (ISTEC) of the National Research Council (CNR), Via Granarolo 64, 48018 Faenza, Italy
Alessandra Sanson: Institute of Science and Technology for Ceramics (ISTEC) of the National Research Council (CNR), Via Granarolo 64, 48018 Faenza, Italy

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-15

Abstract: In this work, copper oxides-based photocathodes for photoelectrochemical cells (PEC) were produced for the first time by screen printing. A total 7 × 10 −3 g/m 2 glycerine trioleate was found as optimum deflocculant amount to assure stable and homogeneous inks, based on CuO nano-powder. The inks were formulated considering different binder amounts and deposited producing films with homogenous thickness, microstructure, and roughness. The as-produced films were thermally treated to obtain Cu 2 O- and Cu 2 O/CuO-based electrodes. The increased porosity obtained by adding higher amounts of binder in the ink positively affected the electron transfer from the surface of the electrode to the electrolyte, thus increasing the corresponding photocurrent values. Moreover, the Cu 2 O/CuO system showed a higher charge carrier and photocurrent density than the Cu 2 O-based one. The mixed Cu 2 O/CuO films allowed the most significant hydrogen production, especially in slightly acid reaction conditions.

Keywords: water splitting; hydrogen; screen-printing; CuO-based electrode (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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