Abstract
In this study, hematite (α-Fe2O3) thin films were synthesized using dip coating and spray pyrolysis techniques on fluorine-doped tin oxide substrates, and the morphological, optical, and structural properties of the hematite were studied. Six peaks were identified for both techniques from X-ray diffraction measurements. The (104) and (110) phases which are the main peaks describe the corundum structure of α-Fe2O3 while other peaks further confirm the formation of high purity α-Fe2O3. Raman spectroscopy revealed seven vibrational modes (two A1g and five Eg modes) of α-Fe2O3 were observed within the first Brillouin zone. Field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed mesoporous hematite nanospheres. The grain sizes were determined by average grain intercept and estimated as 45.8 ± 0.5 and 50.0 ± 0.5 nm respectively for films prepared by spray pyrolysis and dip-coating. Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy results showed good absorbance for both techniques with the absorbance onset at 597 nm for dip coated films as compared to onset at 609 nm for spray pyrolysis films. From this work it was determined that coating techniques can affect the grain sizes of hematite films. This could potentially contribute to improved absorption of light for photoelectrochemical water splitting applications.
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