Abstract
In this study, we investigate Cu2O film electrically connected with TiO2 film, as a p-n type heterojunction, for enhancing the photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) activity towards degradation of methyl orange (MO) solution under ultraviolet irradiation. By using a versatile magnetron sputtering technique, the Cu2O films were deposited onto three different substrates, i.e., ITO, Ni/Cr and Pt, denoted as Cu2O/It, Cu2O/Ni and Cu2O/Pt, respectively, whereas the TiO2 film was deposited on ITO substrate. All three Cu2O films show about the same characteristics of preferential (111) plane of the Cu2O oxide. While electrically coupled with TiO2, the Cu2O/Pt exhibits the highest PEC activity on MO degradation among four different couples. Thus, the increase in PEC activity of the Cu2O/Pt-TiO2 is due to both the electron affinity of the Pt substrate and the effect of the equilibration of Fermi level of which is more compatible for Cu2O and TiO2 oxides, decreasing the electrochemical capacitances of the p-n heterojunction. The electric-assisted heterojunction offers an efficient way for photogenerated electron transport from TiO2 to holes in the Cu2O, rendering enhanced PEC activity.
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