Korean Journal of Materials Research (한국재료학회지)

Materials Research Society of Korea (한국재료학회)
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Solution Processed Porous Fe2O3 Thin Films for Solar-Driven Water Splitting

  • Suryawanshi, Mahesh P. (Optoelectronic Convergence Research Center, Department of Material Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Kim, Seonghyeop (R & D Division, Feelstone Inc.) ;
  • Ghorpade, Uma V. (Optoelectronic Convergence Research Center, Department of Material Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Suryawanshi, Umesh P. (Optoelectronic Convergence Research Center, Department of Material Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Jang, Jun Sung (Optoelectronic Convergence Research Center, Department of Material Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Gang, Myeng Gil (Optoelectronic Convergence Research Center, Department of Material Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Kim, Jin Hyeok (Optoelectronic Convergence Research Center, Department of Material Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Moon, Jong Ha (Optoelectronic Convergence Research Center, Department of Material Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University)
  • Received : 2017.10.18
  • Accepted : 2017.11.02
  • Published : 2017.11.27
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Abstract

We report facile solution processing of mesoporous hematite (${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$) thin films for high efficiency solar-driven water splitting. $Fe_2O_3$ thin films were prepared on fluorine doped tin oxide(FTO) conducting substrates by spin coating of a precursor solution followed by annealing at $550^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. in air ambient. Specifically, the precursor solution was prepared by dissolving non-toxic $FeCl_3$ 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 (${\alpha}-FeOOH$) and annealed (${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$) films were characterized and it was found that the ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ film exhibited an increased photocurrent density of ${\sim}0.78mA/cm^2$ at 1.23 V vs. RHE, which is about 3.4 times higher than that of the ${\alpha}-FeOOH$ films ($0.23mA/cm^2$ at 1.23 V vs. RHE). The improved performance can be attributed to the improved crystallinity and porosity of ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ thin films after annealing treatment at higher temperatures. Detailed electrical characterization was further carried out to elucidate the enhanced PEC performance of ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ thin films.

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References

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