• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.3261-3266
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• 2014

A pellet of polycrystalline $CuGaO_2$ with a delafossite structure was prepared from $Ga_2O_3$ and CuO by high-temperature solid-state synthesis. The $CuGaO_2$ pellet was a p-type semiconductor for which the electrical conductivity, carrier density, carrier mobility and Seebeck coefficient were $5.34{\times}10^{-2}{\Omega}^{-1}cm^{-1}$, $3.5{\times}10^{20}cm^{-3}$, $9.5{\times}10^{-4}cm^2V^{-1}s^{-1}$ at room temperature, and $+360{\mu}V/K$, respectively. It also exhibited two optical transitions at about 2.7 and 3.6 eV. The photoelectrochemical properties of the $CuGaO_2$ pellet electrode were investigated in aqueous electrolyte solutions. The flat-band potential of this electrode, determined using a Mott-Schottky plot, was +0.18 V vs SCE at pH 4.8 and followed the Nernst equation with respect to pH. Under UV light illumination, a cathodic photocurrent developed, and molecular hydrogen simultaneously evolved on the surface of the electrode due to the direct reduction of water without deposition of any metal catalyst.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.149-153
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• 2012

The $Cu_2O/TiO_2$ inverse opal heterojunction arrays were developed by electrochemical deposition of $Cu_2O$ nanoparticles on $TiO_2$ inverse opal arrays. The $Cu_2O$ nanoparticles completely filled the inner pores of $TiO_2$ inverse opal film (prepared by liquid phase deposition with an average thickness of 400 nm) and covered the entire area; exhibiting high crystalline properties of anatase and cubic phase from $TiO_2$ and $Cu_2O$, respectively. From asymmetric current-voltage profile, it was noticeable that a heterojunction was well formed for charge transport from $Cu_2O$ to $TiO_2$ film resulting from the enhanced charge separation yield. In addition, increased photocurrent of 0.19 $mA/cm^2$ (versus 0.08 $mA/cm^2$ under dark condition) was obtained at -0.35 V from the heterojunction structure in the 0.5M $Na_2SO_4$ solution.

• Rapid Communication in Photoscience
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.35-37
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• 2014

PEC (photoelectrochemical) water splitting for $O_2/H_2$ production is one of the promising but difficult way to utilize solar energy. Among photocatalytic materials for PEC water oxidation, $BiVO_4$ (Eg = 2.4 eV) has been recently intensively studied since it has various advantageous properties. But its maximum efficiency has not been realized owing to kinetic factors - slow water oxidation at surface & insufficient stability. These problems can be simultaneously solved by application of oxygen evolution catalyst (OEC) such as $CoO_x$, Co-Pi, $IrO_x$ etc. Herein we report the first successful application of $NiFeO_x$ OEC on $BiVO_4$, showing good performance compared to other effective OEC applied on $BiVO_4$ under basic conditions. The enhanced activity of OEC loaded $BiVO_4$ has been supported by the surface charge separation efficiency and electrochemical impedance studies.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.441-446
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• 2020

Synthesizing nanostructured thin films of oxide semiconductors is a promising approach to fabricate highly efficient photoelectrodes for hydrogen production via photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. In this work, we investigate the feasibility as an efficient photoanode for PEC water oxidation of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructured thin films synthesized via a simple method combined with sputtering Zn metallic films on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass substrate and subsequent thermal oxidation of the sputtered Zn metallic films in dry air. Characterization of the structural, optical, and PEC properties of the ZnO nanostructured thin film synthesized at varying Zn sputtering powers reveals that we can obtain an optimum ZnO nanostructured thin film as PEC photoanode at a sputtering power of 40 W. The photocurrent density and optimal photocurrent conversion efficiency for the optimum ZnO nanostructured thin film photoanode are found to be 0.1 mA/㎠ and 0.51 %, respectively, at a potential of 0.72 V vs. RHE. Our results illustrate that the ZnO nanostructured thin film has promising potential as an efficient photoanode for PEC water splitting.

• Electronic Materials Letters
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.733-738
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• 2018

Undoped and Mn-doped $In_2O_3$ films were prepared by radiofrequency magnetron sputtering technique. The effects of Mn doping on the structural and optical properties of as-prepared films were investigated using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. Mn doping can enhance the intensity of (222) peak in Mn-doped $In_2O_3$ thin film, indicating Mn dopant promotes preferred orientation of crystal growth along (222) plane. XPS analyses revealed that the doped Mn ions exist at + 2 oxidation states, substituting for the $In^{3+}$ sites in the $In_2O_3$ lattice. UV-Vis measurements show that the optical band gap $E_g$ decreases from 3.33 to 2.87 eV with Mn doping in $In_2O_3$, implying an increasing sp-d exchange interaction in the film. Our work demonstrates a practical means to manipulate the band gap energy of $In_2O_3$ thin film via Mn impurity doping, and significantly improves the photoelectrochemical activity.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.954-957
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• 2012

Titanium foils for use in photoelectrochemical devices are treated with a $HNO_3$-HF solution. After this treatment, the optical reflection characteristics of the Ti substrates are markedly increased in terms of not only reflectivity but also optimized wavelength. Furthermore, the "multiple beam interference" theory and optical analysis of surface morphologies clearly verify the origin of the optimized optical reflection properties.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 1995.05a
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• pp.132-135
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• 1995

This paper describes the electrochemical and photochemical behavior of amphiphilic Os bipyridine compelx adsorbed on SnO$_2$electrodes by the Langmuir-Blodgett(LB) film as monolayer state. Theoretical equation of cyclicvoltammetry for redox species were discussed. And the cyclic voltammogram were simulated taking account theinteraction parameters. From these obtained values, we could fit almost all measured voltammograms with these parameters.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.42-50
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• 1998

Titanium dioxide $(TiO_2)$ thin film samples were prepared by using spray pyrolysis methodology and were by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. It was found that anatase prepared by the hydrolysis of titanium(Ⅳ) oxyacetylacetonate exhibited the largest specific surface area. The particle size increased with increasing temperature, while the thickness decreased. Titanium dioxide $(TiO_2)$ in the anatase form was prepared at $400^{\circ}C$ and the photoconductivity was determined using photocurrent measurements. Photoelectrochemical properties of the $TiO_2$-phthalocyanine system were measured in a three-electrode system. The photocurrent action spectrum in the visible region coincided with intrinsic absorption spectrum of phthalocyanine. The crystal structure of phthalocyanine is considered to be a very important property in the photogeneration phenomena.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.224-232
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• 2002

CdS-$TiO_2$ nano-composite sol was prepared by the sol-gel method in organic solvents at room temperature and further hydrothermal treatment at various temperatures to control the physical properties of the primary particles. Again, CdS-$TiO_2$ composite particulate films were made by casting CdS-$TiO_2$ sols onto $F:SnO_2$ conducting glass and then heat-treatment at $400^{\circ}C$. Physical properties of these 61ms were further controlled by the surface treatment with $TiCl_4$, aqueous solution. The photo currents and hydrogen production rates measured under the experimental conditions varied according to the $CdS/[CdS+TiO_2]$ mole ratio and the mixed-sol preparation method. For $CdS-TiO_2$ composite sols prepared in IPA, CdS particles were homogeneously surrounded by $TiO_2$ particles. Also, the surface treatment with $TiCl_4$ aqueous solution caused a considerable improvement in the photocatalytic activity, probably as a result of close contacts between the primary particles by the etching effect of $TiCl_4$. It was found that the photoelectrochemical performance of these particulate films could be effectively enhanced by this approach.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.604-610
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• 2016

We report on the fabrication and characterization of a novel $Cu_2O/CuO$ heterojunction structure with CuO nanorods embedded in $Cu_2O$ thin film as an efficient photocathode for photoelectrochemical (PEC) solar water splitting. A CuO nanorod array was first prepared on an indium-tin-oxide-coated glass substrate via a seed-mediated hydrothermal synthesis method; then, a $Cu_2O$ thin film was electrodeposited onto the CuO nanorod array to form an oxide semiconductor heterostructure. The crystalline phases and morphologies of the heterojunction materials were examined using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, as well as Raman scattering. The PEC properties of the fabricated $Cu_2O/CuO$ heterojunction photocathode were evaluated by photocurrent conversion efficiency measurements under white light illumination. From the observed PEC current density versus voltage (J-V) behavior, the $Cu_2O/CuO$ photocathode was found to exhibit negligible dark current and high photocurrent density, e.g. $-1.05mA/cm^2$ at -0.6 V vs. $Hg/HgCl_2$ in $1mM\;Na_2SO_4$ electrolyte, revealing the effective operation of the oxide heterostructure. The photocurrent conversion efficiency of the $Cu_2O/CuO$ photocathode was estimated to be 1.27% at -0.6 V vs. $Hg/HgCl_2$. Moreover, the PEC current density versus time (J-T) profile measured at -0.5 V vs. $Hg/HgCl_2$ on the $Cu_2O/CuO$ photocathode indicated a 3-fold increase in the photocurrent density compared to that of a simple $Cu_2O$ thin film photocathode. The improved PEC performance was attributed to a certain synergistic effect of the bilayer heterostructure on the light absorption and electron-hole recombination processes.