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

Authors

R Mahdi, University of Wollongong
Mohammed Alsultan, University of WollongongFollow
Amar Al-Keisy, University of Wollongong
Gerhard F. Swiegers, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

146129

Publication Details

Mahdi, R., Alsultan, M., Al-Keisy, A. & Swiegers, G. (2020). Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation from pH-Neutral Water by a Flexible Tri-Component Composite. Catalysis Letters,

Abstract

© 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature. Abstract: In this work we examine the benefits of using carefully designed tri-component composites to fabricate flexible photocathode electrodes for photo-electrocatalytic hydrogen (H2) generation from neutral pH water. We report H2 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 H2-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. Graphic Abstract: Entry for the Table of contents[Figure not available: see fulltext.]