Pt-functionalized Fe 2 O 3 photoanodes for solar water splitting: the role of hematite nano-organization and the platinum redox state
Pt/α-Fe 2 O 3 nanocomposites were synthesized on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates by a sequential plasma enhanced-chemical vapor deposition (PE-CVD)/radio frequency (RF) sputtering approach, tailoring the overall Pt content as a function of sputtering time. The chemico-physical properties o...
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Published in | Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP Vol. 17; no. 19; pp. 12899 - 12907 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
2015
|
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Pt/α-Fe
2
O
3
nanocomposites were synthesized on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates by a sequential plasma enhanced-chemical vapor deposition (PE-CVD)/radio frequency (RF) sputtering approach, tailoring the overall Pt content as a function of sputtering time. The chemico-physical properties of the as-prepared systems were extensively investigated by means of complementary techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), and optical absorption spectroscopy, and compared to those of the homologous Pt/α-Fe
2
O
3
systems annealed in air prior and/or after sputtering. The obtained results evidenced that the material compositional, structural and morphological features, with particular regard to the Pt oxidation state and hematite nano-organization, could be finely tailored as a function of the adopted processing conditions. Pt/α-Fe
2
O
3
systems were finally tested as photoanodes in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting experiments, evidencing a remarkable interplay between functional performances and the above-mentioned material properties, as also testified by transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) results. |
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ISSN: | 1463-9076 1463-9084 |
DOI: | 10.1039/C5CP01636C |