Si-doped Fe2O3 nanotubular/nanoporous layers for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting

Authors

Chong-Yong Lee, University of Erlangen-NurembergFollow
Lei Wang, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Yuya Kado, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Robin Kirchgeorg, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Patrik Schmuki, King Abdulaziz University, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg

RIS ID

104321

Publication Details

Lee, C., Wang, L., Kado, Y., Kirchgeorg, R. & Schmuki, P. (2013). Si-doped Fe2O3 nanotubular/nanoporous layers for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting. Electrochemistry Communications, 34 308-311.

Abstract

The present work reports the enhancement of the photoelectrochemical water splitting performance of in-situ silicon (Si)-doped nanotubular/nanoporous (NT/NP) layers. These layers were grown by self-organizing anodizationon Fe-Si alloys of various Sicontent. The incorporation of Si is found to retard the layer growth rates, leadsto a more pronounced nanotubular morphology, and most importantly, an improved photoelectrochemical behavior. By increasing Si content from1, 2 to 5 at.% in the iron oxide NT/NP photoanodes, the photocurrent onset potential shifts favorably to lower values. At 1.3 V vs. RHE, hematite layer with 5 at.% Si shows a 5-fold increase of the photocurrent, i.e. 0.5 mA cm -2 in comparison to 0.1 mA cm-2 for the undoped samples. The study also reveals that a suitable layer thickness is essential to achieve a beneficial effect of the Si doping. 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.