Vacuum-annealing induces sub-surface redox-states in surfactant-structured alpha-Fe2O3 photoanodes prepared by ink-jet printing
File(s)Fe2O3_Paper_ACB_2016_1ff_revision_clean.docx (1.29 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Transparent nano-structured hematite (α-Fe2O3) films of approximately 550 nm thickness on tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) have been obtained conveniently by ink-jet printing of a Fe(NO3)3/Brij® O10 precursor ink and subsequent annealing at 500 °C in air. When illuminated with a blue LED (λ = 455 nm, ca. 100 mW cm−2), the hematite films exhibited photocurrents of up to 70 μA cm−2 at 0.4 V vs. SCE in 0.1 M NaOH electrolyte. Thermal annealing in vacuum at 500 °C for 2 h increased photocurrents more than three times to 230 μA cm−2 in agreement with previous literature reports for pure hematite materials. These results suggest that a simple ink-jetting process with surfactants is viable. The effects of vacuum-annealing on the photoelectrical properties of α-Fe2O3 films are discussed in terms of a sub-surface state templating hypothesis based on data gathered from photo-transients, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, X-ray diffraction, photocurrent spectra, and cyclic voltammetry.
Date Issued
2017-08-21
Date Acceptance
2017-04-18
Citation
Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2017, 211, pp.289-295
ISSN
0926-3373
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
289
End Page
295
Journal / Book Title
Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
Volume
211
Copyright Statement
© 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Sponsor
The Royal Society
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000400816200030&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
UF150657
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Technology
Chemistry, Physical
Engineering, Environmental
Engineering, Chemical
Chemistry
Engineering
Hematite films
Photoanode
Water splitting
Oxygen evolution
Solar energy
SOLAR HYDROGEN-PRODUCTION
DRIVEN OXYGEN EVOLUTION
CHARGE-CARRIER DYNAMICS
WATER OXIDATION
IRON-OXIDE
SEMICONDUCTOR ELECTRODES
ELECTRICAL-PROPERTIES
HEMATITE PHOTOANODES
THIN-FILMS
KINETICS
0306 Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural)
0904 Chemical Engineering
0907 Environmental Engineering
Physical Chemistry
Publication Status
Published