High photoelectrochemical performance of a p‐type reduced graphene oxide‐copper oxide/Cu foil (rGO‐CuO/Cu) photoelectrode prepared by a one‐pot hydrothermal method

Summary Toward solar‐to‐hydrogen generation, it is required to assembling an efficient photoelectrode in the solar energy conversion system. The preparation of rGO‐CuO/Cu photoelectrode via a facile one‐pot hydrothermal approach is reported. Here, we present the physicochemical and performance of rGO‐CuO/Cu photoelectrode in different hydrothermal reaction time. The XRD, XPS, HRTEM, FESEM, and Raman analysis authenticate the formation of rGO‐CuO/Cu composites. The photoelectrochemical properties measurement (including UV‐Vis, photovoltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and Mott‐Schottky analysis) demonstrated the best performance for photoelectrode synthesized in 3 hours of hydrothermal reaction. The rGO‐CuO/Cu3 composites recorded a charge carrier density of 6.548 × 1024 cm−3 and generating a highest photocurrent density of 9.6 mA cm−2 (vs Ag/AgCl). By optimizing the reaction time, higher photocurrent was generated due to more surface capable for effective charge transfer separation. Thus, with the facile method, the technique was shown to be attractive in preparing photocathodes for photoelectrochemical energy conversion. Through the facile method, photoelectrode Reduced Graphene Oxide‐Copper Oxide/Cu Foil (rGO‐CuO/Cu) synthesized at temperature 200°C in 3 hours of hydrothermal reaction time generated the highest photocurrent density of 9.6 mAcm‐2 (vs Ag/AgCl). The physicochemical and photoelectrochemical properties measurement have shown that the photoelectrode is attractive for photoelectrochemical energy conversion. The enhancement in the photogenerated current in the composites is related with its band energy, which participate the separation and transportation of charge carrier.