Ultrathin Ti3C2 nanosheets served as a highly efficient hole transport layer on a Fe2O3 photoanode for photoelectrochemical water oxidation. (1st November 2021) - Feng, Chenchen
Abstract : Ultrathin Ti3 C2 nanosheets, serving as a highly efficient hole transport layer, are introduced into the Fe2 O3 /CoAl layered double hydroxide (LDH) interface, for highly efficient PEC water oxidation. Abstract : Surface modification of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) cocatalysts is a promising approach to improve PEC water oxidation activity by accelerating the surface charge injection efficiency and catalytic reaction kinetics. However, the PEC performance is still restricted by inefficient charge transfer at the semiconductor/cocatalyst interface. In this study, ultrathin Ti3 C2 nanosheets, serving as a highly efficient hole transport layer, were introduced into the Fe2 O3 /CoAl-layered double hydroxide (LDH) interface. The obtained Fe2 O3 –Ti3 C2 –CoAl photoanodes exhibited a significantly improved photocurrent density of 2.1 mA cm −2 at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) under AM 1.5G illumination. In this system, the Ti3 C2 nanolayer not only suppresses the interfacial recombination of photogenerated carriers but also facilitates efficient hole transfer from Fe2 O3 to the OER cocatalyst, thus promoting the PEC performance. This study provides a new guideline for optimizing the charge transfer at the semiconductor/cocatalyst interface.