Sains Malaysiana 47(7)(2018): 1511–1516

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2018-4707-19

Kesan Resonans Plasmon Aurum terhadap Prestasi Fotoelektrokimia Fotokatod Cu₂O

(Plasmonic Resonance Effect of Au on Photoelectrochemical Performance of Cu₂O Photocathode)

KIM HANG NG¹, LORNA JEFFERY MINGGU¹*, NURUL AKMAL JAAFAR¹ & MOHAMMAD B. KASSIM²

¹Institut Sel Fuel, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²Pusat Pengajian Sains Kimia dan Teknologi Makanan, Fakulti Sains dan Teknologi, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Received: 30 June 2017/Accepted: 19 February 2018

ABSTRAK

Dalam kajian ini, kesan lapisan Au di atas fotokatod kuprus oksida (Cu₂O) terhadap tindak balas fotoelektrokimia telah diuji. Lapisan Cu₂O dan Au ini telah disediakan di atas subtrak kaca stanum oksida terdop fluorin (FTO) dalam konfigurasi yang berlainan, melalui kaedah elektroendapan. Selepas itu, fotokatod ini dicirikan dengan mikroskopi elektron imbasan berpancaran medan (FESEM), spektroskopi ultra lembayung dan cahaya nampak (UV-Vis) dan analisis fotoelektrokimia. Daripada imej FESEM, lapisan Au telah berjaya diendapkan di atas substrak FTO dan permukaan Cu₂O. Penyerapan plasmon Au pada julat cahaya nampak juga terbukti dan ia telah mempertingkatkan penggunaan cahaya nampak untuk tindak balas fotoelektrokimia. Oleh itu, prestasi fotoelektrokimia fotokatod Cu₂O berplasmon telah meningkat secara ketara. Di bawah sinaran suria simulasi A.M 1.5, fotokatod Cu₂O terapit Au telah menjanakan ketumpatan fotoarus yang tertinggi, iaitu ~4 kali ganda peningkatan berbanding prestasi fotokatod Cu₂O tulen.

Kata kunci: Fotoelektrokimia; logam oksida; plasmon

ABSTRACT

In this work, the effect of Au layer on cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) photocathode on photoelectrochemical reaction was studied. The Cu₂O and Au layer were prepared on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate in different configurations, via electrodeposition method. Then, the photocathodes were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), UV-Vis spectroscopy and photoelectrochemical analysis. From the FESEM images, the Au layer was successfully deposited onto the FTO substrate and the surface of Cu₂O. The plasmonic absorption of Au at visible light region was proven and it improved the utilization of visible light for photoelectrochemical reaction. As a result, the photoelectrochemical performance of the plasmonized Cu₂O photocathode improved significantly. Under simulated AM 1.5 solar illumination, the Au sandwiched Cu₂O photocathode generated the highest photocurrent density, which is ~4 folds enhancement compared to that obtained by bare Cu₂O photocathode.

Keywords: Metal oxide; photoelectrochemical; plasmonic

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*Corresponding author: email: lorna_jm@ukm.edu.my