Premium
Novel Composites of α‐Fe 2 O 3 Tetrakaidecahedron and Graphene Oxide as an Effective Photoelectrode with Enhanced Photocurrent Performances
Author(s) -
Liu Shaoxiong,
Zheng Lingxia,
Yu Pingping,
Han Sancan,
Fang Xiaosheng
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201505554
Subject(s) - graphene , materials science , photocurrent , oxide , raman spectroscopy , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , graphene oxide paper , dielectric spectroscopy , scanning electron microscope , chemical engineering , water splitting , photocatalysis , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , transmission electron microscopy , nanotechnology , composite material , optoelectronics , electrochemistry , optics , electrode , catalysis , metallurgy , biochemistry , chemistry , physics , engineering
Novel composites composed of α‐Fe 2 O 3 tetrakaidecahedrons and graphene oxide have been easily fabricated and demonstrated to be efficient photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting reaction with superior photocurrent response. α‐Fe 2 O 3 tetrakaidecahedrons are facilely synthesized in a green manner without any organic additives and then modified with graphene oxide. The morphological and structural properties of α‐Fe 2 O 3 /graphene composite are intensively investigated by several means, such as X‐ray diffraction, field‐emission scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The tetrakaidecahedronal hematite particles have been indicated to be successfully coupled with graphene oxide. Systematical photoelectrochemical and impedance spectroscopy measurements have been carried out to investigate the favorable performance of α‐Fe 2 O 3 /graphene composites, which are found to be effective photoanodes with rapid, steady, and reproducible feature. The coupling of graphene with α‐Fe 2 O 3 particles has greatly enhanced the photoelectrochemical performance, resulting in higher photocurrent and lower onset potential than that of pure α‐Fe 2 O 3 . This investigation has provided a feasible method to synthesize α‐Fe 2 O 3 tetrakaidecahedron and fabricate an efficient α‐Fe 2 O 3 /graphene photoelectrode for photoelectrochemical water oxidation, suggesting a promising route to design noble metal free semiconductor/graphene photocatalysts.