Mesoporous α-Fe2O3 thin films synthesized via the sol-gel process for light-driven water oxidationElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c2cp42535a
This work reports a facile and cost-effective method for synthesizing photoactive α-Fe 2 O 3 films as well as their performances when used as photoanodes for water oxidation. Transparent α-Fe 2 O 3 mesoporous films were fabricated by template-directed sol-gel chemistry coupled with the dip-coating a...
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , , , , |
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Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
17.09.2012
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Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | This work reports a facile and cost-effective method for synthesizing photoactive α-Fe
2
O
3
films as well as their performances when used as photoanodes for water oxidation. Transparent α-Fe
2
O
3
mesoporous films were fabricated by template-directed sol-gel chemistry coupled with the dip-coating approach, followed by annealing at various temperatures from 350 °C to 750 °C in air. α-Fe
2
O
3
films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, XPS, FE-SEM and electrochemical measurements. The photoelectrochemical performance of -Fe
2
O
3
photoanodes was characterized and optimized through the deposition of Co-based co-catalysts
via
different methods (impregnation, electro-deposition and photo-electro-deposition). Interestingly, the resulting hematite films heat-treated at relatively low temperature (500 C), and therefore devoid of any extrinsic dopant, achieve light-driven water oxidation under near-to-neutral (pH = 8) aqueous conditions after decoration with a Co catalyst. The onset potential is 0.75 V
vs.
the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), thus corresponding to 450 mV light-induced underpotential, although modest photocurrent density values (40 A cm
2
) are obtained below 1.23 V
vs.
RHE. These new materials with a very large interfacial area in contact with the electrolyte and allowing for a high loading of water oxidation catalysts open new avenues for the optimization of photo-electrochemical water splitting.
Mesostructured hematite films display original photoelectrocatalytic response for water oxidation when coupled with Co-based catalysts. |
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Bibliography: | 10.1039/c2cp42535a Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI |
ISSN: | 1463-9076 1463-9084 |
DOI: | 10.1039/c2cp42535a |