Spray‐pyrolysis synthesis of CuMnO2 with the potential for photoelectrocatalysis

Abstract

AbstractAmidst the global endeavor toward sustainable energy sources, photocatalysis appears as a promising gateway toward the production of solar fuels, in particular hydrogen. Hydrogen is currently a crucial reagent for vital industries such as petrol desulfurization, iron reduction and ammonia production, so the decarbonization of its production is a major challenge. CuMnO2 (CMO), a p‐type semiconductor, has been shown to enhance the efficiency of catalysts such as TiO2 for the photoelectrocatalytic water splitting reaction. However, since pure CMO thin films have never been reported, its potential and limitations remain elusive. We used spray pyrolysis as a low‐cost synthesis technique to simplify and accelerate the synthesis of CMO thin films directly on FTO substrates. CMO prepared in this manner exhibits activity toward photoeletrocatalytic water splitting and O2 reduction. The activity has been found to be highly dependent on synthesis conditions, especially on the ratio and volume of precursors.