Abstract
In this study, we successfully fabricated a single-crystal Fe2O3 nanowire array based on stress-induced atomic diffusion and used this array as the photoelectrode for solar water splitting. With the surface polishing treatment on the sample surface, the density of the Fe2O3 nanowire array reached up to 28.75 wire µm−2 when heated for 90 min at 600°C. The photocurrent density of the optimized sample was 0.9 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V versus a reversible hydrogen electrode in a three-electrode system under AM 1.5 G illumination. The incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency was 6.8% at 400 nm.
Highlights
A clean and sustainable energy resource is indispensable for human beings because of the massive fossil fuel consumption that comes along with industrial development
We recently proposed a method to fabricate a high-density polycrystalline Fe2O3 nanowire array based on oxidation-assisted stress-induced atomic diffusion by introducing a water vapour environment [23]
The present study demonstrates a new method of fabricating an extremely high-density single-crystal Fe2O3 nanowire array based on stress-induced atomic diffusion with surface polishing treatment
Summary
A clean and sustainable energy resource is indispensable for human beings because of the massive fossil fuel consumption that comes along with industrial development. Several promising materials, including WO3 [2], BiVO4 [3], TiO2 [4] and Fe2O3 [5], have been studied 2 as the electrode materials for solar water splitting These candidates must satisfy some requirements, such as a small semiconductor bandgap, theoretical maximum solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency, durability in aqueous environments and low cost. We recently proposed a method to fabricate a high-density polycrystalline Fe2O3 nanowire array based on oxidation-assisted stress-induced atomic diffusion by introducing a water vapour environment [23]. The present study demonstrates a new method of fabricating an extremely high-density single-crystal Fe2O3 nanowire array based on stress-induced atomic diffusion with surface polishing treatment. The surface polishing treatment could enhance the surface oxidation process, thereby increasing the driving force of atomic diffusion
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