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Comparative study of g-C₃N₄/Cu₂O and BiVO₄/Cu₂O photocathodes for enhanced electricity generation and hydrogen evolution in photocatalytic fuel cells

International Journal of Renewable Energy Development : JRED · Vol. 15 No. 1 (2026) · pp. 191–203

DOI
10.61435/ijred.2026.61810
ISSN
2252-4940
Published
2026-01-01
Publisher
Center of Biomass & Renewable Energy (CBIORE)
Language
eng
License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

Abstract

The preparation of good photocathodes is a crucial issue regarding promoting the performance of photocatalytic fuel cell (PFC) systems for environmentally protective energy conversion approaches. In the present work, a comparative study of Cu₂O-based photocathodes jointly modified with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) and bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) was performed to ascertain their competence towards concomitant electricity generation and hydrogen evolution in an integrated single-chamber photocatalytic fuel cell. Cu substrates were anodized to produce ordered Cu₂O layers, modified with immersion treatments, and then low-temperature calcination. The as-prepared products were characterized in detail by XRD, HR-TEM, UV–Vis DRS, PL spectra, and XPS analyses, as well as photoelectrochemical measurements to gain insight into crystallinity, morphology, photocatalytic activity (optical absorption), electronic structure, and charge recombination. Results revealed that among the pristine Cu₂O and g-C₃N₄/Cu₂O, superior charge separation was exhibited on the BiVO₄/Cu₂O photocathode, along with better power density and hydrogen evolution. The highest power density of BiVO₄/Cu₂O was 0.05625 mW cm⁻² and 13.71 mmol.m⁻² for hydrogen evolution compared to both Cu₂O (0.0375 mW cm⁻²;11.19 mmol.m⁻²) and g-C₃N₄/Cu₂O (0.026 mW cm⁻²; 8.1616 mmol m-2). This observation was supported by the analysis of the photoluminescence spectra: BiVO₄/Cu₂O had PL intensity of 325 a.u., lower than Cu₂O (400 a.u.) and g-C₃N₄/Cu₂O (650 a.u.), validating that this sample more effectively suppressed electron–hole recombination and electron transport mechanism. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of BiVO₄/Cu₂O is associated with the generation of a p-n heterojunction, which accumulates a built-in electric field to drive effective charge separation and offers visible-light sensitization upon its larger absorption spectrum that is beneficial for not only promoting hydrogen evolution efficiency but also improving electricity production in PFC systems.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

40 authors · 84 co-authorship links · 16 across different organisations · showing the 40 most connected

Hover or tap a name to highlight its co-authors. Double-click to open the author's page.

  • Sebelas Maret University
  • Universitas Halu Oleo
  • Hasanuddin University
  • Politeknik Negeri Ujung Pandang
  • Sanata Dharma University
  • Universitas Bhayangkara Surabaya
  • Tarumanagara University
  • Other organisations
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Different organisations
  • Same organisation
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Thicker line = more joint articles · bigger circle = more articles
Show as table
Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
Aji PrasetyaningrumAffiliation unknown3
Reno PratiwiAffiliation unknown3
Bambang Heru SusantoAffiliation unknown3
Saddam HuseinPoliteknik Negeri Ujung Pandang3
Bakti JosAffiliation unknown2
Dewi AnggrainiUniversitas Halu Oleo1
Rahman TandiAffiliation unknown1
Fira RahmawatiAffiliation unknown1
Kamilah Pathun Ni’mahAffiliation unknown1
Yusuf Musafir KoleworaUniversitas Halu Oleo1
Faisal YunusAffiliation unknown1
Surdin SurdinUniversitas Halu Oleo1
La HaruduAffiliation unknown1
Edy SuryantoSebelas Maret University1
Sumarwati SumarwatiSebelas Maret University1
Rahmatika MulyaniSanata Dharma University1
Atikah AnindyariniSebelas Maret University1
Laila Fitri Nur HidayahSebelas Maret University1
Moh. Fajrul AlfienSebelas Maret University1
Tri SuminarAffiliation unknown1
I Made SudanaAffiliation unknown1
Wasino WasinoTarumanagara University1
Haryono HaryonoUniversitas Bhayangkara Surabaya1
Masrukhi MasrukhiAffiliation unknown1
Ibnu Amar MuchsinAffiliation unknown1
Aris SetiawanAffiliation unknown1
Deki Prasetya ArdiansyahAffiliation unknown1
Mustika MustikaAffiliation unknown1
Maskun MaskunHasanuddin University1
Supardi SalamAffiliation unknown1
Puji LestariJenderal Soedirman University1
Zulfina AdrianiAffiliation unknown1
Randa KrismonAffiliation unknown1
Zakki Fuad KhalilAffiliation unknown1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://ijred.cbiore.id/index.php/ijred/oai, first harvested 8 Nov 2026, last seen 8 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en-US">Comparative study of g-C₃N₄/Cu₂O and BiVO₄/Cu₂O photocathodes for enhanced electricity generation and hydrogen evolution in photocatalytic fuel cells</dc:title>
	<dc:creator>Hakim, Muhammad Fahmi</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Bachri, Muhammad Febriansyah</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Ratnawati, Ratnawati</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Yudianti, Rike</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Ibadurrohman, Muhammad</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Slamet, Slamet</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Cu₂O; photocathode; hydrogen evolution; photocatalytic fuel cell; Z-scheme</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en-US">The preparation of good photocathodes is a crucial issue regarding promoting the performance of photocatalytic fuel cell (PFC) systems for environmentally protective energy conversion approaches. In the present work, a comparative study of Cu₂O-based photocathodes jointly modified with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) and bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) was performed to ascertain their competence towards concomitant electricity generation and hydrogen evolution in an integrated single-chamber photocatalytic fuel cell. Cu substrates were anodized to produce ordered Cu₂O layers, modified with immersion treatments, and then low-temperature calcination. The as-prepared products were characterized in detail by XRD, HR-TEM, UV–Vis DRS, PL spectra, and XPS analyses, as well as photoelectrochemical measurements to gain insight into crystallinity, morphology, photocatalytic activity (optical absorption), electronic structure, and charge recombination. Results revealed that among the pristine Cu₂O and g-C₃N₄/Cu₂O, superior charge separation was exhibited on the BiVO₄/Cu₂O photocathode, along with better power density and hydrogen evolution. The highest power density of BiVO₄/Cu₂O was 0.05625 mW cm⁻² and 13.71 mmol.m⁻² for hydrogen evolution compared to both Cu₂O (0.0375 mW cm⁻²;11.19 mmol.m⁻²) and g-C₃N₄/Cu₂O (0.026 mW cm⁻²; 8.1616 mmol m-2). This observation was supported by the analysis of the photoluminescence spectra: BiVO₄/Cu₂O had PL intensity of 325 a.u., lower than Cu₂O (400 a.u.) and g-C₃N₄/Cu₂O (650 a.u.), validating that this sample more effectively suppressed electron–hole recombination and electron transport mechanism. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of BiVO₄/Cu₂O is associated with the generation of a p-n heterojunction, which accumulates a built-in electric field to drive effective charge separation and offers visible-light sensitization upon its larger absorption spectrum that is beneficial for not only promoting hydrogen evolution efficiency but also improving electricity production in PFC systems.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en-US">Center of Biomass &amp; Renewable Energy (CBIORE)</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2026-01-01</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
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	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://ijred.cbiore.id/index.php/ijred/article/view/61810</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.61435/ijred.2026.61810</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en-US">International Journal of Renewable Energy Development; Vol 15, No 1 (2026): January 2026; 191-203</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2252-4940</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://ijred.cbiore.id/index.php/ijred/article/view/61810/pdf</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en-US">Copyright (c) 2026 The Author(s). Published by Centre of Biomass and Renewable Energy (CBIORE)</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en-US">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0</dc:rights>
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