Algerian Journal of Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development
Volume 7, Numéro 2, Pages 248-256
2025-12-15
Effect Of Annealing Process On The Heteroepitaxial Cuo/cu2o As A Highly Efficient Photocathode For Photoelectrochemical Solar Cell Application
Authors : Muhammad Abdurrahman .
Abstract
The thermal oxidations of cuprous oxide were effectively prepared via simply annealing on copper foil substrate Cu2O photocathodes. They were characterized by Fourier transport infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results during the annealing process showed that a heteroepitaxial layer of CuO/Cu2O formed, which displayed the nature of a p-type semiconductor. Compared to pure Cu2O, the photocurrent density and photoelectrochemical (PEC) stability of the p-type heteroepitaxial CuO/Cu2O photocathode improved significantly, largely due to changes in annealing time and temperature. The best performance and stability were achieved by annealing at 475°C, showing a considerable enhancement over the as-deposited Cu2O. This indicates that the CuO/Cu2O heteroepitaxial layer helps separate electron-hole pairs, boosting both the current and stability of the photocathode. Although the heteroepitaxial layer is thin, its effect on catalytic activity is substantial. It alters the band and electronic structures of Cu-Cu2O, which aids in activating O2 and transferring electrons during the oxidation process, thereby enhancing catalysis.
Keywords
Heteroepitaxial; Solar cell; Photocathode; Photoanode; Photocurrent.
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