A Metastable p-Type Semiconductor as a Defect-Tolerant Photoelectrode.

ABSTRACT: A p-type Cu₃Ta₇O₁₉ semiconductor was synthesized using a CuCl flux-based approach and investigated for its crystalline structure and photoelectrochemical properties. The semiconductor was found to be metastable, i.e., thermodynamically unstable, and to slowly oxidize at its surfaces upon heating in air, yielding CuO as nano-sized islands. However, the bulk crystalline structure was maintained, with up to 50% Cu(I)-vacancies and a concomitant oxidation of the Cu(I) to Cu(II) cations within the structure. Thermogravimetric and magnetic susceptibility measurements showed the formation of increasing amounts of Cu(II) cations, according to the following reaction: Cu₃Ta₇O₁₉ + x/2 O₂ → Cu_(3-x)Ta₇O

SUBMITTER: Sohag Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8624039 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature