Preparation and characterization of a polyaniline-based photoelectrode for CO2 reduction

Abstract

The increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration has intensified efforts to convert this greenhouse gas into valuable chemicals using sustainable technologies. In this study, we developed and characterized hybrid photoelectrodes based on HCl-doped polyaniline (PANI) and Cu2O/PANI composites on graphite substrates, targeting photoelectrocatalytic CO2 reduction. Both electrochemical and chemical synthesis routes were explored, including Zn-doping to enhance electronic properties. Physicochemical and electrochemical techniques confirmed the structural integrity, charge transfer ability, and visible-light activity of the electrodes. Among the tested systems, Cu2O/PANI showed the best performance in carbonate electrolyte under solar illumination, highlighting its potential for selective and efficient CO2 conversion.