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Expanding depletion region via doping: Zn-doped Cu2O buffer layer in Cu2O photocathodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting

  • Materials (Organic, Inorganic, Electronic, Thin Films)
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Abstract

We report photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction using a Cu2O-based photocathode with a layer doped with Zn ions. The doping results in the shift of the onset flat-band potential of the photocathode, likely a consequence of maximized band-bending in the Cu2O/Zn : Cu2O heterojunction. Systematic electrochemical analysis reveals that expansion of depletion region is responsible for the enhanced photoelectrochemical performance, e.g., the increase of photocurrent and reduced internal resistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21+ Program), KAIST Institute for the Nanocentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Korea

    Kangha Lee, Cheol-Ho Lee, Seokwon Lee & Doh Chang Lee

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Korea

    Jun Young Cheong & Il-Doo Kim

  3. Carbon Convergence Materials Research Center, Institute of Advanced Composite Materials, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Wanju, Jeollabukdo, 55324, Korea

    Cheol-Ho Lee & Han-Ik Joh

  4. Department of Extreme Energy Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, 27478, Korea

    Han-Ik Joh

Authors
  1. Kangha Lee
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  2. Cheol-Ho Lee
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  3. Jun Young Cheong
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  4. Seokwon Lee
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  5. Il-Doo Kim
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  6. Han-Ik Joh
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  7. Doh Chang Lee
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Correspondence to Doh Chang Lee.

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The authors declare no competing financial interest.

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11814_2017_225_MOESM1_ESM.pdf

Expanding depletion region via doping: Zn-doped Cu2O buffer layer in Cu2O photocathodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting

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Lee, K., Lee, CH., Cheong, J.Y. et al. Expanding depletion region via doping: Zn-doped Cu2O buffer layer in Cu2O photocathodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting. Korean J. Chem. Eng. 34, 3214–3219 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-017-0225-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-017-0225-8

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