Theoretical Insights into Photoelectrochemical Water Reduction on Delafossite CuRhO2

Taehun Lee, Matteo Ferri, Simone Piccinin, Annabella Selloni

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Delafossite CuRhO2is a p-type semiconductor capable of reducing water efficiently and durably under visible light illumination. To obtain fundamental insight into these properties, we investigated the CuRhO2(001)/water interface in electrochemical environment using density-functional theory coupled with an implicit water solvent model for the electrolyte. We determined how the solvent affects the surface structure under applied voltage and controlled pH and computed the corresponding band offsets at the aqueous interface. The band alignment of the partially reduced CuRhO2/water interface shows a suitable conduction band edge for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), in agreement with experiment. Rh-based surface states close to the conduction band are predicted not to act as recombination centers but possibly favor the HER. Moreover, proton discharge leads to the formation of weakly adsorbed species, suggesting CuRhO2as an effective photocatalyst for this reaction.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1528-1533
Number of pages6
JournalACS Energy Letters
Volume7
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 8 2022

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Chemistry (miscellaneous)
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Fuel Technology
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Materials Chemistry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Theoretical Insights into Photoelectrochemical Water Reduction on Delafossite CuRhO2'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this