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Dendritic Hematite Nanoarray Photoanode Modified with a Conformal Titanium Dioxide Interlayer for Effective Charge Collection
Author(s) -
Luo Zhibin,
Wang Tuo,
Zhang Jijie,
Li Chengcheng,
Li Huimin,
Gong Jinlong
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201705772
Subject(s) - photocurrent , hematite , materials science , titanium dioxide , passivation , chemical engineering , dopant , substrate (aquarium) , electrode , nanotechnology , inorganic chemistry , layer (electronics) , optoelectronics , doping , chemistry , metallurgy , oceanography , geology , engineering
This paper describes the introduction of a thin titanium dioxide interlayer that serves as passivation layer and dopant source for hematite (α‐Fe 2 O 3 ) nanoarray photoanodes. This interlayer is demonstrated to boost the photocurrent by suppressing the substrate/hematite interfacial charge recombination, and to increase the electrical conductivity by enabling Ti 4+ incorporation. The dendritic nanostructure of this photoanode with an increased solid–liquid junction area further improves the surface charge collection efficiency, generating a photocurrent of about 2.5 mA cm −2 at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (vs. RHE) under air mass 1.5G illumination. A photocurrent of approximately 3.1 mA cm −2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE could be achieved by addition of an iron oxide hydroxide cocatalyst.