A new electrodeposition route was developed to prepare p-type CuFeO2 as a thin film-type electrode for use as a photocathode in a solar water splitting cell. The resulting p-CuFeO2 film has a bandgap energy of ca. 1.55 eV, with its conduction band edge located at a more negative potential than the reduction potential of water. Various photoelectrochemical properties of the p-CuFeO2 electrode were investigated, and its photoelectrochemical hydrogen production in 1 M NaOH solution was confirmed by gas chromatography. The incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency plot confirmed that p-CuFeO2 has the ability to utilize the entire range of visible light.
Keywords: CuFeO2; electrodeposition; photocathode; photoelectrochemical cell; solar hydrogen production.