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Phase-Pure Copper Vanadate (α-CuV2O6): Solution Combustion Synthesis and Characterization

Authors :
Hossain, Mohammad Kabir
Sarker, Hori Pada
Sotelo, Paola
Dang, Uyen
Rodríguez-Gutiérrez, Ingrid
Blawat, Joanna
Vali, Abbas
Xie, Weiwei
Oskam, Gerko
Huda, Muhammad N.
Macaluso, Robin T.
Rajeshwar, Krishnan
Source :
Chemistry of Materials; July 2020, Vol. 32 Issue: 14 p6247-6255, 9p
Publication Year :
2020

Abstract

This study addresses a perennial problem in the synthesis of copper vanadates, namely, that of phase purity. A time-efficient solution combustion synthesis (SCS) was employed for obtaining α-CuV2O6in a polycrystalline powder form in a matter of minutes. Admixture of the final product with α-Cu2V2O7or V2O5was avoided by a combination of careful pH control of the SCS precursor mixture and by a postsynthesis NaOH wash. The phase purity of the resultant product was demonstrated by Rietveld refinement of the X-ray diffraction data, energy-dispersive X-ray analyses, and laser Raman spectroscopy. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) measurements showed the material to be an n-type semiconductor. Possible applicability of α-CuV2O6in PEC devices designed for solar water splitting hinges on a comprehensive study of its structural, optical, magnetic, and optoelectronic attributes; this was done by a combination of theory and experiment. Intensity-modulated photocurrent spectroscopy on thin film samples permitted an assessment of the balance between charge transfer and surface recombination, underlining that the charge separation efficiency determined the photocurrent magnitude. Finally, experiments on the PEC stability of this material on prolonged (∼4 h) irradiation revealed self-healing behavior induced by incipient photocorrosion product layer formation on the oxide semiconductor surface.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
08974756
Volume :
32
Issue :
14
Database :
Supplemental Index
Journal :
Chemistry of Materials
Publication Type :
Periodical
Accession number :
ejs53625171
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.0c02227