CuBi2 O4 has recently emerged as a promising photocathode for photo-electrochemical (PEC) water splitting. However, its fast degradation under operation currently poses a limit to its application. Here, we report a novel method to study operando the semiconductor-electrolyte interface during PEC operation by surface-sensitive high-energy X-ray scattering. We find that a fast decrease in the generated photocurrents correlates directly with the formation of a metallic Bi phase. We further show that the slower formation of metallic Cu, as well as the dissolution of the electrode in contact with the electrolyte, further affect the CuBi2 O4 activity and morphology. Our study provides a comprehensive picture of the degradation mechanisms affecting CuBi2 O4 electrodes under operation and poses the methodological basis to investigate the photocorrosion processes affecting a wide range of PEC materials.
Keywords: Copper Bismuth Oxide; Operando X-Ray Scattering; Photocorrosion; Thin Films; Water Splitting.
© 2023 The Authors. Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.