Work

S-Doped FeOOH Layers as Efficient Hole Transport Channels for the Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance of Fe2O3

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Hematite (Fe2O3) has been accepted as a promising and potential photo(electro)catalyst. However, its poor carrier separation and transfer efficiency has limited its application for photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) water oxidation. Herein, a S-doped FeOOH (S:FeOOH) layer was rationally designed and grown on Fe2O3 to construct a S:FeOOH/Fe2O3 composite photoanode. The obtained S:FeOOH/Fe2O3 photoanodes were fully characterized. The surface injection efficiency for Fe2O3 was then significantly increased with a high ηsurface value of 92.8%, which increases to 2.98 times for Fe2O3 and 2.16 times for FeOOH/Fe2O3, respectively. With 2.43 mA cm‒2 at 1.23 V, the optimized S:FeOOH/Fe2O3 photoanode was entrusted with a higher photocurrent density. The onset potential for S:FeOOH/Fe2O3 cathodically shifts 70 mV over Fe2O3. The improved PEC performance suggests that the S:FeOOH layer acts as ultrafast transport channels for holes at the photoanode/electrolyte interface, suppressing surface charge recombination. A Z-scheme band alignment between Fe2O3 and S:FeOOH was deduced from the UV–Vis and UPS spectra to promote charge transfer. This method provides an alternative for the construction of photoanodes with enhanced PEC water splitting performance.

Source: Nanomaterials

DOI: 10.3390/nano15100767

Authors: Yanhong Zhou, Yiran Zhang, Boyang Jing, Xiaoyuan Liu, Debao Wang

Institution: Qingdao University of Science and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Iron oxide chemistry and applications

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896