Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation from pH-Neutral Water by a Flexible Tri-Component Composite

In this work we examine the benefits of using carefully designed tri-component composites to fabricate flexible photocathode electrodes for photo-electrocatalytic hydrogen (H-2) generation from neutral pH water. We report H(2)production by a tri-component composite thin-film containing CuO nanowires (CuO NW), reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and polypyrrole (PPy). At - 1.1 V vs Ag/AgCl in 0.5 M Na2SO4(pH 6.8) with a hole-scavenger, under weak light illumination, he photocurrent performance was fivefold greater than the bi-component CuO-rGO control having the same absolute quantities of CuO and rGO. It was 30-fold greater than the CuO-PPy control. The tri-component CuO-rGO-PPy thin film therefore displayed an active H-2-generating capacity compare with its bi-component analogues. It, effectively, exploited the advantages of each component, including the suppression of charge recombination afforded by the rGO, and the photocorrosion protection, immobilization and flexibility afforded by the PPy, whilst avoiding their disadvantages.

Automated summary

This work examines the advantages of using carefully designed tri-component composites to fabricate flexible photocathode electrodes for photo-electrocatalytic hydrogen generation. The tri-component composite thin film showed significantly improved photocurrent performance compared to bi-component controls, harnessing the strengths of each component effectively.