Comparison of the electrochemical properties of hematite thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis and electrodeposition. Issue 7 (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vanags, Martins; Šutka, Andris; Kleperis, Janis; Shipkovs, Peteris
• Is Part Of: Ceramics international. Volume 41:Issue 7(2015)
• Page Start: 9024
• Page End: 9029
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: Hematite -- Photoelectrochemical -- Thin films -- Mott–Schottky; Ceramics -- Periodicals; Céramique industrielle -- Périodiques; Ceramics; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 666
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2015.03.272
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-8842

Abstract

Abstract: This manuscript reports differences between the photoelectrochemical (PEC) activity of hematite (α-Fe2 O3 ) photoanodes produced by cathodic electrodeposition (ED) and spray pyrolysis (SP) methods. Both methods yield nanostructured polycrystalline α-Fe2 O3 thin films without additional impurity phases. However, α-Fe2 O3 produced by ED is characterised to have better crystallinity and higher porosity, which was confirmed by XRD and SEM analysis. Owing to this, α-Fe2 O3 obtained by ED generates a photocurrent that is 2.5 times higher than α-Fe2 O3 thin films prepared by SP. Furthermore, the influence of the thickness of the α-Fe2 O3 thin films on the flat-band potential position was investigated. Mott–Schottky measurements revealed flat-band potential shifting to more negative values, closer to the value of water red-ox potentials, providing the possibility to use these films for efficient water splitting.