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An effective strategy to promote hematite photoanode at low voltage bias via Zr4+/Al3+ codoping and CoOx OER co-catalyst
- Source :
- Electrochimica Acta. 319:444-455
- Publication Year :
- 2019
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2019.
-
Abstract
- Herein, we report the surface treatment on Zr4+/Al3+ codoped α-Fe2O3 photoanode for high-performance photoelectrochemical water splitting. A high-temperature quenching exhibits the Zr4+/Al3+ codoping in α-Fe2O3 photoanode without damaging morphology. The presence of Zr4+/Al3+ codoping shows a cathodic shift in onset potential, but lack of increment in photocurrent reveals the major role of passivation and the minimum doping effect of aluminum. Additionally, CoOx cocatalyst exhibits increment in photocurrent with the greater cathodic shift in onset potential than the pristine α-Fe2O3 nanorods. The CoOx surface-reworked Zr4+/Al3+ codoped α-Fe2O3 photoanode displays the highest photocurrent of 1.5 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE (76% increment over the pristine α-Fe2O3) and 0.7 mA/cm2 at 1.0 V vs. RHE (102% increment over the pristine α-Fe2O3). The systematic characterization carried out using x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy confirms that after Zr4+/Al3+ codoping, and surface treatment, the crystalline structure, and morphology of the photoanodes remains unchanged. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the existence of Zr4+/Al3+ codopants in the hematite nanostructure. The electrochemical properties of the photoanode suggest that Al3+ and Zr4+ codoping, as well as surface treatment with CoOx, cocatalyst lowers charge transfer resistance across the FTO/hematite interface, and hematite/electrolyte interface. This designs not only lowers onset potential but also offers the blueprint for the development of an efficient catalyst for solar water oxidation.
- Subjects :
- Photocurrent
Materials science
Passivation
General Chemical Engineering
Doping
02 engineering and technology
Hematite
010402 general chemistry
021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology
Electrochemistry
01 natural sciences
0104 chemical sciences
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
Chemical engineering
visual_art
visual_art.visual_art_medium
Water splitting
Nanorod
0210 nano-technology
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 00134686
- Volume :
- 319
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Electrochimica Acta
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........c5e34cb6e579939372776ebb88051321