RESEARCH OF PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF CuBi2O4 BASED PHOTOCATHODES AND THEIR MODIFICATION BY SILVER IONS ON CONDUCTIVE GLASSES

Abstract

The article presents the results of the study of photo electrochemical properties of copper-containing photocathodes on conductive glasses by aqueous solutions pyrolysis and electrochemical method. All electrodes showed absorption in the entire range of the visible spectrum, starting from 330 nm and above, at that silver alloying of copper bismuthate results in decrease in optical density of the electrodes, which is accompanied by a large value of current indicators. It is shown that cathodes based on copper oxide have minimal photocurrents, whereas triple copper oxide based on copper bismuthate shows much better indicators at aqueous solutions electrolysis. This may be due to intensification of main carriers tunneling process at concentration points of silver ion centers in an array of copper bismuthate film. This is due to additional current component in general voltage–ampere characteristic of the electrode, i.e. the current is ultimately higher for the sample with silver ions than without it. Almost fivefold increase in photocurrents on the electrodes of copper bismuthate doped with silver ions in the sacrificial electrolyte has been achieved.