Enhanced photoelectrochemical performance of LaFeO3 photocathode with Au buffer layer. Issue 46 (27th August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Peipei; He, Yanfang; Mi, Yan; Zhu, Jianfei; Zhang, Faling; Liu, Yuan; Yang, Ying; Chen, Mingming; Cao, Dawei
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 9:Issue 46(2019)
• Page Start: 26780
• Page End: 26786
• Publication Date: 2019-08-27
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c9ra05521e
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : Au/LFO obtained by facile magnetron sputtering and sol–gel process presents a remarkable improvement in photocurrent up to −19.60 μA cm −2 . Abstract : Due to an appropriate band gap of 2.07 eV, perovskite LaFeO3 (LFO) is an alternative candidate for high-efficiency photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems. However, the photocurrent of the LFO photocathode is too low to be practical. Herein, we prepared a LFO film with high crystal quality by inserting an Au thin layer between LFO and FTO in the LFO/FTO photocathode. Accordingly, an effective improvement PEC performance could be obtained and the photocurrent density of the FTO/Au/LFO electrode was increased to −19.60 μA cm −2 at 0.6 V vs. RHE, which is 4.1 times higher than that of pristine FTO/LFO electrode. Based on the experimental and theoretical analysis, the enhancement of the photocurrent was attributed to the strong light harvesting, enhanced charge separation, and increased charge-collection efficiency of the Au/LFO structure. This work provides a promising strategy to develop high-efficiency PEC electrodes, and has potential to be applied in the visible-light water splitting area.