Boosting the performance of hematite photoanodes for solar water oxidation by synergistic W-incorporation and Zr-passivation. (21st June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lan, Huiwen; Deng, Jiujun; Zhong, Jun
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 44:Number 31(2019)
• Page Start: 16436
• Page End: 16442
• Publication Date: 2019-06-21
• Subjects: W-incorporation -- Zr-passivation -- Underlayer -- Hematite -- Solar water oxidation; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.04.247
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: Incorporating impurities into hematite is an effective approach to enhance the photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting performance of hematite photoanode. Here, we report an efficient W-incorporation in hematite (W-Fe2 O3 ) to enhance the PEC performance by depositing a WO3 underlayer onto the FTO substrate. The W-incorporation dramatically enhances the photocurrent density of hematite by a factor of ∼2. Moreover, it can be well coupled with Zr to achieve a high photocurrent of 2.0 mA cm −2 at 1.23 V vs . RHE by simultaneously depositing a ZrO2 underlayer on the FTO substrate. A large cathodic shift of the onset potential up to 120 mV can also be obtained. The boosted PEC performance can be attributed to the synergistic effect of W and Zr in hematite, which can both improve the carrier density (by W-incorporation) and suppress the charge recombination (by Zr-passivation). Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: An efficient W doped hematite photoanode was prepared by introducing WO3 underlayer. PEC activity of W-incorporated hematite is further improved via surface passivation of Zr. Boosted PEC performance from the synergistic effect of W-incorporation and Zr-passivation.