Greatly improved dispersibility of Pt quantum dots in hematite nanoarray and enhanced photoelectrochemical performance. (14th September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Xiaoning; Gu, Wen; Wang, Fangfang; Yin, Xiaofeng; Zhu, Liuyang; Zou, Wei; Zhang, Guobin; Fu, Zhengping; Lu, Yalin
• Is Part Of: Nanotechnology. Volume 28:Number 41(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-09-14
• Subjects: hematite nanorod array -- Pt quantum dots -- photocatalytic -- photoelectrochemical -- dispersibility; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology; Publications périodiques; Nanotechnologies; Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/aa8389
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0957-4484

Abstract

Abstract: The anchoring of platinum quantum dots (Pt QDs) on the surface of hematite ( α -Fe2 O3 ) nanorods is regarded as an efficient way to promote photoelectrochemical activity. To further improve the performance of the Pt-hematite material system, the size and location of the Pt QDs is a key factor to be considered. In this work, an α -Fe2 O3 nanorod array film was grown on a transparent conductive FTO substrate by a facile hydrothermal method. Pt QDs with a diameter of ∼2 nm were uniformly deposited on the surface of the α -Fe2 O3 nanorod. The dispersibility of the Pt QDs was greatly improved by regulating the surface wettability of the α -Fe2 O3 thin film. The dependence of surface wettability on the micro-/nano-structure of the α -Fe2 O3 array was revealed. Due to the structure regulation of the α -Fe2 O3 nanoarray and the greatly improved dispersibility of the Pt QDs, the photocurrent of the 2.7 wt% Pt QD anchored α -Fe2 O3 nanorod array was ten times higher than that of the pure α -Fe2 O3 nanorod array. This work points to an efficient approach for dispersing the QDs in a nanoarray thin film by adjusting its micro-/nano-structure and surface wettability.