Photoanodic and photocathodic behaviour of La₅Ti₂CuS₅O₇ electrodes in the water splitting reaction.

ABSTRACT: The particulate semiconductor La₅Ti₂CuS₅O₇ (LTC) with a band gap energy of 1.9 eV functioned as either a photocathode or a photoanode when embedded onto Au or Ti metal layers, respectively. By applying an LTC/Au photocathode and LTC/Ti photoanode to, respectively, photoelectrochemical (PEC) water reduction and oxidation concurrently, zero-bias overall water splitting was accomplished under visible light irradiation. The band structures of LTC/Au and LTC/Ti calculated using a semiconductor device simulator (AFORS-HET) confirmed the critical role of the solid/solid junction of the metal back contact in the charge separation and PEC properties of LTC photoelectrodes. The prominently long lifetime of photoexcited charge carriers in LTC, confirmed by

SUBMITTER: Ma G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5499491 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature