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Protected Hematite Nanorod Arrays with Molecular Complex Co‐Catalyst for Efficient and Stable Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation
Author(s) -
Chen Xiangyan,
Fu Yanming,
Kong Tingting,
Shang Yi,
Niu Fujun,
Diao Zhidan,
Shen Shaohua
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
european journal of inorganic chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.667
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1099-0682
pISSN - 1434-1948
DOI - 10.1002/ejic.201801200
Subject(s) - overlayer , photocurrent , chemistry , nanorod , water splitting , reversible hydrogen electrode , hematite , catalysis , passivation , chemical engineering , photocatalysis , adsorption , inorganic chemistry , electrode , electrochemistry , layer (electronics) , materials science , mineralogy , optoelectronics , working electrode , biochemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
Herein, a hybrid structure of hematite (α‐Fe 2 O 3 ) nanorod arrays is designed, with surface catalyzed by Co molecular complex (Co(dca) 2 , dca: dicyanamide) and then protected by TiO 2 thin overlayer, for efficient and stable photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation. The obtained α‐Fe 2 O 3 /Co(dca) 2 /TiO 2 hybrid nanorod arrays show much improved and stabilized PEC performance as compared to the pristine, and even the Co(dca) 2 or TiO 2 modified α‐Fe 2 O 3 , with a photocurrent density of 0.35 mA cm –2 obtained at 1.23 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), and an incident photon‐to‐current conversion efficiency (IPCE) reaching 16 % at 400 nm at 1.6 V vs. RHE. It has been demonstrated that the adsorbed Co(dca) 2 molecular complex could effectively promote the interface charge transfer process and accelerate the water oxidation reaction kinetics, meanwhile the atomic layer deposited TiO 2 overlayer could passivate the surface defects of α‐Fe 2 O 3 and suppress the surface charge carrier recombination. Moreover, the TiO 2 overlayer could effectively protect Co(dca) 2 from detaching from the α‐Fe 2 O 3 surface and thus stabilize the PEC activity for water oxidation reaction. The present study provides some available thoughts and methods for rational design of highly efficient photoelectrodes for water splitting from the perspective of the surface and interface engineered charge carrier transfer and water oxidation processes.