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Efficient Deposition of Semiconductor Powders for Photoelectrocatalysis by Airbrush Spraying
Author(s) -
Gutkowski Ramona,
Schäfer Dominik,
Nagaiah Tharamani C.,
Heras Jorgé E. Yanez,
Busser Wilma,
Muhler Martin,
Schuhmann Wolfgang
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
electroanalysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1521-4109
pISSN - 1040-0397
DOI - 10.1002/elan.201400363
Subject(s) - materials science , photocurrent , chemical engineering , scanning electron microscope , deposition (geology) , photocatalysis , substrate (aquarium) , electrode , thin film , catalysis , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , composite material , chemistry , paleontology , sediment , engineering , biology , biochemistry , oceanography , geology
Powder catalysts were deposited as thin films on transparent conductive oxides (TCO) by means of an airbrush spray coating technique. Photoelectrocatalytic properties of the powder catalysts were characterized using photocurrent spectroscopy at different wavelengths demonstrating on the one hand the stability of the films and on the other hand the electrical connection with the electrode surface. The morphology and thickness of the deposited powder catalyst films on TCO were characterized using scanning electron microscopy. Aiming at photocatalytic water splitting, semiconductor powders like gallium oxide (Ga 2 O 3 ) and zinc oxide (ZnO) were used as test samples to optimize the deposition technique resulting in thin homogeneous layers and good adhesion on the conductive substrate. The proposed airbrush deposition technique of powder catalysts allows closing an experimental gap between microheterogeneous systems and modified electrodes for finding suitable materials for photoelectrochemical water splitting.