Journal article

Publication year: 2016

Pages: 18444-18456

Journal: Journal of Materials Chemistry A: materials for energy and sustainability

Volume number: 4

Issue number: 47

ISSN: 2050-7488

Open access status: Hybrid

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1039/c6ta06979g

Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry

Abstract: 
We demonstrate the synthesis and photoelectrochemical performance of high-aspect ratio dense and hollow alpha-Fe2O3 nanofibres, and the formation of core-shell-like alpha-Fe2O3/indium-tin oxide (ITO) nanocomposites utilised as a photoanode for solar water splitting. alpha-Fe2O3 nanofibres were prepared via a single-nozzle electrospinning technique using iron chloride (FeCl3) and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) as precursors, followed by calcination. A new synthetic formation mechanism has been proposed taking into account the significance of three control parameters: (i) the iron precursor, (ii) the role of a co solvent and (iii) the influence of the humidity on the tube evolution of alpha-Fe2O3 nanotubes. Hollow alpha-Fe2O3 fibres showed enhanced photocurrents and incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) values compared to dense fibres, which are ascribed to the superior surface area of hollow fibres offering a good accessibility for the electrolyte and thus leading to improved mass transport. The photoelectrochemical properties of the alpha-Fe2O3 nanofibres could be further enhanced by the combination with highly crystalline, uniform ITO nanocrystals ((sic) 10 nm), thus forming a core-shell-like alpha-Fe2O3/ITO fibre nanocomposite. The doubled photocurrent of the alpha-Fe2O3/ITO nanocomposite can most likely be attributed to the fast interfacial charge carrier exchange between the highly conductive ITO nanoparticles and alpha-Fe2O3, thus inhibiting the recombination of the electron hole pairs in the semiconductor by spatial separation.

Harvard Citation style: Einert, M., Ostermann, R., Weller, T., Zellmer, S., Garnweitner, G., Smarsly, B., et al. (2016) Hollow alpha-Fe2O3 nanofibres for solar water oxidation: improving the photoelectrochemical performance by formation of alpha-Fe2O3/ITO-composite photoanodes, Journal of Materials Chemistry A: materials for energy and sustainability, 4(47), pp. 18444-18456. https://doi.org/10.1039/c6ta06979g

APA Citation style: Einert, M., Ostermann, R., Weller, T., Zellmer, S., Garnweitner, G., Smarsly, B., & Marschall, R. (2016). Hollow alpha-Fe2O3 nanofibres for solar water oxidation: improving the photoelectrochemical performance by formation of alpha-Fe2O3/ITO-composite photoanodes. Journal of Materials Chemistry A: materials for energy and sustainability. 4(47), 18444-18456. https://doi.org/10.1039/c6ta06979g