Solution Processed Porous Fe2O3 Thin Films for Solar-Driven Water Splitting

Mahesh P. Suryawanshi; Seonghyeop Kim; Uma V. Ghorpade; Umesh P. Suryawanshi; Jun Sung Jang; Myeng Gil Gang; Jin Hyeok Kim; Jong Ha Moon

doi:10.3740/MRSK.2017.27.11.631

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2017 Vol.27, Issue 11 Preview Page Next Page

Solution Processed Porous Fe₂O₃ Thin Films for Solar-Driven Water Splitting

November 2017. pp. 631-635

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Abstract

We report facile solution processing of mesoporous hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) thin films for high efficiency solar-driven water splitting. Fe₂O₃ thin films were prepared on fluorine doped tin oxide(FTO) conducting substrates by spin coating of a precursor solution followed by annealing at 550 oC for 30 min. in air ambient. Specifically, the precursor solution was prepared by dissolving non-toxic FeCl3 as an Fe source in highly versatile dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) as a solvent. The as-deposited and annealed thin films were characterized for their morphological, structural and optical properties using field-emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction(XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. The photoelectrochemical performance of the precursor (α-FeOOH) and annealed (α-Fe₂O₃) films were characterized and it was found that the α-Fe₂O₃ film exhibited an increased photocurrent density of ~0.78 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE, which is about 3.4 times higher than that of the α-FeOOH films (0.23 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE). The improved performance can be attributed to the improved crystallinity and porosity of α-Fe₂O₃ thin films after annealing treatment at higher temperatures. Detailed electrical characterization was further carried out to elucidate the enhanced PEC performance of α-Fe₂O₃ thin films.

Keywords

solution processing

annealing

porous

hematite

solar water splitting

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Information

Publisher :Materials Research Society of Korea
Publisher(Ko) :한국재료학회
Journal Title :Korean Journal of Materials Research
Journal Title(Ko) :한국재료학회지
Volume : 27
No :11
Pages :631-635
Received Date : 2017-10-18
Revised Date : 2017-11-02
Accepted Date : 2017-11-02
DOI :https://doi.org/10.3740/MRSK.2017.27.11.631

Korean Journal of Materials Research ISSN:1225-0562(Print) 2287-7258(Online) 한국재료학회지

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