Sains Malaysiana 49(12)(2020): 3209-3217

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2020-4912-32

Electrodeposited WO₃/Au Photoanodes for Photoelectrochemical Reactions

(Pengelektroendapan Fotoanod WO₃/Au untuk Tindak Balas Fotoelektrokimia)

LORNA JEFFERY MINGGU*, NURUL AKMAL JAAFAR, KIM HANG NG, KHUZAIMAH ARIFIN & ROZAN MOHAMAD YUNUS

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

Diserahkan: 17 Ogos 2020/Diterima: 11 September 2020

ABSTRACT

This work aims to study the effect of gold (Au) loading on the photoelectrochemical behavior of tungsten trioxide (WO₃) photoelectrodes. The WO₃ film has been fabricated via electrodeposition method with constant potential on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate. The Au nanoparticle loading on WO₃ films surface was also prepared by constant potential electrodeposition. Due to the small amount of Au loading, the band gap values of the plasmonized WO₃ remained around 2.6 eV. However, during the photoelectrochemical analysis, the photoactivity of the plasmonized WO₃ photoelectrodes improved >100% with a minimal amount of Au loading compared to the pristine WO₃. The photocurrent generation was further enhanced with the presence of organic donors (methanol and formic acid). The photocurrent achieved 3.74 mA/cm² when 1.0 M of formic acid was added. Plausible charge transfer mechanism was suggested.

Keywords: Au nanoparticles; electrodeposition; photoelectrochemical; waste degradation; WO₃ films

ABSTRAK

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menguji kesan muatan aurum (Au) terhadap perilaku fotoelektrokimia fotoelektrod tungsten trioksida (WO₃). Filem WO₃ telah dihasilkan melalui kaedah elektroendapan potensi malar ke atas kaca bersalut timah oksida terdop florin (FTO). Nanopartikel Au dimendapkan ke atas permukaan filem WO₃ dengan kaedah elektroendapan potensi malar. Jurang tenaga WO₃ berplasmon kekal sekitar 2.6 eV disebabkan muatan Au yang sangat kecil. Namun begitu, semasa analisis fotoelektrokimia, fotoaktiviti fotoelektrod WO₃ berplasmon telah meningkat >100% dengan muatan Au yang minimum berbanding WO₃ tulen. Penjanaan fotoarus telah ditingkatkan lagi dengan penambahan penderma organik (metanol dan asid formik). Fotoarus telah mencapai 3.74 mA/cm² apabila 1.0 M asid formik ditambahkan. Mekanisma pemindahan cas yang munasabah juga dicadangkan.

Kata kunci: Elektroendapan; filem WO₃; fotoelektrokimia; nanopartikel Au; penguraian sisa

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: lorna_jm@ukm.edu.my