Premium
Synthesis of mesoporous functional hematite nanofibrous photoanodes by electrospinning
Author(s) -
SavehShemshaki Nikoo,
Latifi Masoud,
Bagherzadeh Roohollah,
Malekshahi Byranvand Mahdi,
Naseri Naimeh,
Dabirian Ali
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
polymers for advanced technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.61
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1581
pISSN - 1042-7147
DOI - 10.1002/pat.3647
Subject(s) - materials science , electrospinning , hematite , water splitting , photocurrent , mesoporous material , scanning electron microscope , chemical engineering , calcination , nanofiber , nanostructure , nanotechnology , electrode , photocatalysis , composite material , optoelectronics , catalysis , polymer , metallurgy , biochemistry , chemistry , engineering
Iron(III) oxide (hematite, Fe 2 O 3 ) nanofibers, as visible light‐induced photoanode for water oxidation reaction of a water splitting process, were fabricated through electrospinning method followed by calcination treatment. The prepared samples were characterized with scanning electron microscopy, and three‐electrode galvanostat/potentiostat for evaluating their photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties. The diameter of the as‐spun fibers is about 300 nm, and calcinated fibers have diameter less than 110 nm with mesoporous structure. Optimized multilayered electrospun α ‐Fe 2 O 3 nanostructure mats showed photocurrent density of 0.53 mA/cm 2 under dark and visible illumination conditions at voltage 1.23 V and constant intensity (900 mW/cm 2 ). This photovoltaic performance of nanostructure mats makes it suitable choice for using in the PEC water splitting application as an efficient photoanode. This method, if combined with appropriate flexible conductive substrate, has the potential for producing flexible hematite solar fuel generators. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.