Nanostructured Titanium Doped Iron Oxide Photoelectrodes for Water Splitting

作者：Miclea Cornel; Amarande Luminita; Cioangher Marius Cristian; Miclea Ciprian Tiberiu; Mihailescu Madalina; Radu Cristina; Ivanov Anisoara

来源：Romanian Journal of Information Science and Technology, 2015, 18(1): 93-105.

Water splitting by means of semiconducting photoelectrodes and solar light represents a promising alternative to conventional fossil fuel economy. In this process the photoactive electrode absorb sunlight directly thus initiating the photochemical reaction which create excess electrons in the conduction band of the semiconducting electrode. Titanium doped iron oxide seems to be a promising semiconducting material for photoelectrodes. Consequently, we investigated the effect of Ti doping on the structure, electrical and photoelectrochemical properties alpha-Fe2O3. The Ti doped alpha-Fe2O3 were prepared by a slightly modified mixed oxide route, consisting in a prolonged mixing of the raw materials in a high energy planetary ball mill until the particles decreased to the nanometric sizes. Optimum results were obtained for samples doped with 5 at. % titanium and sintered at 1200 degrees C. Photocurrents as high as 8.4 mA/cm(2), for illumination from a 300 W xenon lamp, were recorded for such samples. It is hoped that such photoelectrodes show promise for water splitting.

• 出版日期2015