Photoelectrochemistry of electrodeposited Cu2O

The photoelectrochemical properties of electrodeposited Cu2O in aqueous solutions were investigated. The material showed long term stability under illumination at negative potentials. The diffusion Length of electrons in the as-deposited material was of the order of 10-100 nm. We did not observe photocathodic reduction of water. The efficiencies for the reduction of oxygen and the methylviologen cation at these electrodes were surprisingly high. This suggests that, in conjunction with a suitable redox system. electrodeposited Cu2O could be a promising material as a p-type photoelectrode in an electrochemical photovoltaic cell. (C) 2000 The Electrochemical Society. S0013-4651(99)06-014-0. All rights reserved.