Sains Malaysiana 48(6)(2019): 1233–1238

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2019-4806-10

Synthesis of Graphene/Cu₂O Thin Film Photoelectrode via Facile Hydrothermal Method for Photoelectrochemical Measurement

(Sintesis Fotoelektrod Filem Nipis Grafen/Cu₂O melalui Kaedah Hidroterma Tindak Balas Mudah bagi Pengukuran Fotoelektrokimia)

ROSMAHANI MOHD SHAH¹, ROZAN MOHAMAD YUNUS²*, MOHD SHAHBUDIN MASDAR@MASTAR^1,2, LORNA JEFFEREY MINGGU², WAI YIN WONG² & ABDUL AMIR H. KADHUM¹

¹Research Centre for Sustainable Process Technology, Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Received: 21 November 2018/Accepted: 1 March 2019

ABSTRACT

The process of carbon dioxide (CO₂) reduction by using efficient non-precious-metal catalyst to make the process be economical has brought a comprehensive research in the area. In this study, graphene layer in copper foil was easily synthesized using hydrothermal method at temperature 200°C in 3 h duration. Diffraction peaks in XRD at around 29°, 36°, 42° and 74° in the composites correlate to the (110), (111), (200) and (311) crystalline planes of cubic cuprous oxide (Cu₂O), while peak at 27° showed the carbon graphitic peak. Raman confirms the presence of the graphene layer on Cu₂O. Photoelectrochemical performance test of Graphene/Cu₂O demonstrated that the photoelectrocatalyst showing the photocurrent density 9.6 mA cm-2 at -0.8V vs Ag/AgCl. This study demonstrated a potential of semiconductor-based hybrid electrode for an efficient photoelectrocatalytic of CO₂ reduction.

Keywords: CO₂ reduction; cuprous oxide; graphene; photoelectrochemical

ABSTRAK

Proses penurunan karbon dioksida (CO₂) dengan menggunakan pemangkin bukan logam berharga yang berkesan untuk menghasilkan proses yang lebih berekonomi telah membawa kepada penyelidikan yang komprehensif dalam bidang tersebut. Dalam kajian ini, lapisan grafen pada kerajang tembaga disintesis dengan mudah menggunakan kaedah hidroterma pada suhu 200°C dalam tempoh masa 3 jam. Puncak belauan XRD pada sudut 29°, 36°, 42° dan 74° menunjukkan satah hablur kubik oksida (Cu₂O) (110), (111), (200) dan (311) dan puncak grafit karbon ditunjukkan pada sudut 27°. Raman mengesahkan kehadiran lapisan grafen pada Cu₂O. Ujian prestasi fotopemangkinan grafen/Cu₂O menunjukkan bahawa fotomangkin tersebut mempunyai ketumpatan fotokimia 9.6 mA cm-2 pada -0.8V vs Ag/AgCl. Kajian ini menyumbang kepada penghasilan elektrod hibrid berasaskan semikonduktor sebagai fotomangkin yang berkesan untuk penurunan CO₂.

Kata kunci: Fotoelektrokimia; grafen; kuprus oksida; penurunan CO₂

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*Corresponding author; email: rozanyunus@ukm.edu.my