Facile synthesis of p-type Zn-doped α-Fe2O3 films for solar water splitting

Chun-Lin Kuo; Yu-Kuei Hsu; Yan-Gu Lin

doi:10.1117/12.2060703

7 October 2014 Facile synthesis of p-type Zn-doped α-Fe₂O₃ films for solar water splitting

Chun-Lin Kuo, Yu-Kuei Hsu, Yan-Gu Lin

Proceedings Volume 9176, Solar Hydrogen and Nanotechnology IX; 91760N (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2060703
Event: SPIE Solar Energy + Technology, 2014, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

A facile and simple fabrication of Zn-doped α-Fe₂O₃ thin films as a photocathode for solar hydrogen generation was proposed in this report. Transparent Zn-doped α-Fe₂O₃ films were prepared by a deposition-annealing (DA) process using nontoxic iron(III) chloride as the Fe precursor and zinc chloride as a acceptor dopant, followed by annealing at 550 °C in air. In terms of the structural examination of as-grown samples, X-ray diffraction analysis demonstrated an increase in the lattice parameters of Zn incorporated in Fe₂O₃ by substituting Fe in the host lattice. No second phase was determined, indicating no phase separation in the ternary materials. Energy dispersive spectroscopy results demonstrated that Zn, Fe, and O elements existed in the deposits. Furthermore, impedance measurements show that the Zn-dopant serves as an hole acceptor and increases the acceptor concentration by increasing concentration of zinc precursor. Significantly, the photoelectrochemical measurements exhibited remarkable cathodic current, corresponding to the reduction reaction of hydrogen. Finally, the optimum photocurrent can be achieved by controlled variation of the Fe and Zni precursor concentration, annealing conditions, and the number of DA cycles. According to our investigation, the understandings of morphology effect on PEC activity give the blueprint for materials design in the application of solar hydrogen.

Citation Download Citation

Chun-Lin Kuo, Yu-Kuei Hsu, and Yan-Gu Lin "Facile synthesis of p-type Zn-doped α-Fe₂O₃ films for solar water splitting", Proc. SPIE 9176, Solar Hydrogen and Nanotechnology IX, 91760N (7 October 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2060703

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