Role of Efficient Charge Transfer at the Interface between Mixed-Phase Copper-Cuprous Oxide and Conducting Polymer Nanostructures for Photocatalytic Water Splitting

Photocatalytic hydrogen generation from water splitting is regarded as a sustainable technology capable of producing green solar fuels. However, the low charge separation efficiencies and the requirement of lowering redox potentials are unresolved challenges. Herein, a multiphase copper-cuprous oxide/polypyrrole (PPy) heterostructure has been designed to identify the role of multiple oxidation states of metal oxides in water reduction and oxidation. The presence of a mixed phase in PPy heterostructures enabled an exceptionally high photocatalytic H2 generation rate of 41 mmol h-1 with an apparent quantum efficiency of 7.2% under visible light irradiation, which is a 7-fold augmentation in contrast to the pure polymer. Interestingly, the copper-cuprous oxide/PPy heterostructures exhibited higher charge carrier density, low resistivity, and 6 times higher photocurrent density compared to Cu2O/PPy. Formation of a p-p-n junction between polymer and mixed-phase metal oxide interfaces induce a built-in electric field which influences directional charge transfer that improves the catalytic activity. Notably, photoexcited charge separation and transfer have been significantly improved between copper-cuprous oxide nanocubes and PPy nanofibers, as revealed by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Additionally, the photocatalyst demonstrates excellent stability without loss of catalytic activity during cycling tests. The present study highlights a superior strategy to boost photocatalytic redox reactions using a mixed-phase metal oxide in the heterostructure to achieve enhanced light absorption, longer charge carrier lifetimes, and highly efficient photocatalytic H2 and O2 generation.