Molybdenum disulfide as the interfacial layer in the CuO-TiO2 photocathode for photoelectrochemical cells

Photoelectrochemical cells guarantee the production of hydrogen as the clean energy source to overcome energy crisis. In this study, we have explored the impact of MoS2 as the interfacial layer in the CuO-TiO2 composite photocathode framework. The CuO was electrodeposited on the indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass substrates and subsequently treated at high temperature (550 degrees C for 2 h) to develop CuO. The fitting of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data revealed a decrease in the magnitude of total impedance (CEuroZCEuro) for the composite photocathode with MoS2 as the interfacial layer between the CuO and TiO2. The magnitudes of charge transfer resistance for the ITO/CuO, ITO/CuO/TiO2, and ITO/CuO/MoS2/TiO2 electrodes were calculated as 429,170, 18,490, and 17,388 Omega cm(-2), respectively. Likewise, the photocurrent density was increased with the addition of MoS2 at the interface up to -0.73 mA cm(2) which was recorded -0.39 mA cm(2). This study is critical for the future improvement of the potential photocathode materials with enhanced photocurrent response.