A new method for the fabrication of a bilayer WO3/Fe2O3 photoelectrode for enhanced photoelectrochemical performance. (February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ng, Kim Hang; Minggu, Lorna Jeffery; Mark-Lee, Wun Fui; Arifin, Khuzaimah; Jumali, Mohammad Hafizuddin Hj; Kassim, Mohammad B.
• Is Part Of: Materials research bulletin. Volume 98(2018)
• Page Start: 47
• Page End: 52
• Publication Date: 2018-02
• Subjects: WO3 -- Ultrathin Fe2O3 -- Direct water splitting -- Methanol oxidation; Materials -- Periodicals; Crystal growth -- Periodicals; Matériaux -- Périodiques; Cristaux -- Croissance -- Périodiques; Crystal growth; Materials; Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2017.04.019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-5408

Abstract

Graphical abstract: The addition of a very thin layer of Fe2 O3 onto WO3 red-shifted light absorption after layering resulted in higher photocatalytic performance (two-fold improvement) compared to that of pristine WO3 . Highlights: A thin layer of Fe2 O3 is layered on the electrodeposited WO3 photoelectrode. The light absorption of WO3 was extended towards the visible light region, resulting higher photoelctrochemical performance. Charge transfer mechanism in the bilayer photoanode was suggested. Abstract: A bilayer WO3 /Fe2 O3 heterojunction photoelectrode was prepared with a new approach for photoelectrochemical reactions. WO3 was deposited onto an FTO conductive glass substrate via electrodeposition, followed by the deposition of an ultrathin Fe2 O3 layer using the chemical bath deposition method. The presence of Fe2 O3 layer improved the light absorption of WO3 /Fe2 O3 toward visible light region (red-shift). The addition of a thin layer of Fe2 O3 on WO3 resulted in higher photocatalytic performance (two-fold improvement) compared to that of pristine WO3 . In addition, the WO3 /Fe2 O3 photoelectrode also showed a positive photoresponse for methanol degradation. The photocurrent generation of the bilayer photoelectrode improved 1.6-fold with the addition of methanol as a sacrificial donor.