PhD thesis supervisor: dr. Putinas Kalinauskas (apply for recommendation)
Development of high-efficiency CuBi₂O₄-based photocathodes for hydrogen evolution
The development of efficient and stable photocatalysts composed of earth-abundant elements is a central challenge for solar hydrogen production. Copper oxides are attractive visible-light absorbers with suitable electronic properties for hydrogen evolution; however, their application is severely limited by fast charge recombination and photocorrosion under operational conditions. Mixed copper–bismuth oxides (eg. CuBi₂O₄) offer an underexplored opportunity to overcome these limitations.
This PHD project focuses on CuBi₂O₄, a narrow-band-gap 1,6-1,8 eV copper–bismuth oxide that remains largely unexplored in photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical water splitting. The central hypothesis is that the photocatalytic performance of CuBi₂O₄ can be significantly enhanced through targeted control of its crystal chemistry, interfacial charge separation, and surface stability.
The proposed research will (i) establish the fundamental electronic structure, band alignment, and charge-carrier dynamics of CuBi₂O₄; (ii) identify and quantify photocorrosion and degradation pathways under illumination; and (iii) engineer heterojunctions and protective surface layers to enable stable visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution. A combination of controlled synthesis (electrochemical deposition, layers magnetron sputtering and spin coating technologies), advanced structural and surface characterization, and photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical testing will be employed.