Charge Transfer Mechanism in Type II WO3/Cu2O Heterostructure
Anna A. Murashkina, Aida V. Rudakova, Tair V. Bakiev, Alexei V. Emeline, Detlef W. Bahnemann
Abstract
In this study, we explore the charge transfer mechanism between WO3 and Cu2O in heterostructured WO3/Cu2O electrodes and in a WO3||Cu2O tandem photoelectrochemical cell. The physical–chemical characterizations of the individual WO3 and Cu2O electrodes and the heterostructured WO3/Cu2O electrode by XRD, XPS, and SEM methods confirm the successful formation of the target systems. The results of photoelectrochemical studies infer that in both the heterostructured WO3/Cu2O electrode and WO3||Cu2O tandem photoelectrochemical cell, the major mechanism of charge transfer between WO3 and Cu2O is a realization of the Z-scheme.
Topics & Concepts
HeterojunctionElectrodeTandemX-ray photoelectron spectroscopyMaterials scienceCharge (physics)PhotocatalysisPhotoelectrochemical cellRealization (probability)NanotechnologyOptoelectronicsElectrochemistryChemical engineeringChemistryCatalysisPhysical chemistryComposite materialPhysicsMathematicsElectrolyteBiochemistryEngineeringQuantum mechanicsStatisticsAdvanced Photocatalysis TechniquesZnO doping and propertiesCopper-based nanomaterials and applications