Dual role of TiO2 buffer layer in Pt catalyzed BiFeO3 photocathodes: Efficiency enhancement and surface protection

作者：Shen, Huanyu; Zhou, Xiaoxue; Dong, Wen^*; Su, Xiaodong; Fang, Liang; Wu, Xi; Shen, Mingrong

来源：Applied Physics Letters, 2017, 111(12): 123901.

DOI：10.1063/1.4999969

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Polycrystalline ferroelectric BiFeO3 (BFO) films deposited on transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes have shown to be an interesting photocathode for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting; however, its PEC performance and stability are far from perfection. Herein, we reported an amorphous TiO2 buffer layer, inserted between BFO and Pt catalyst, improves significantly both its PEC activity and stability. A photocathodic current density of -460 mu A/cm(2) at 0V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and an onset potential of 1.25V vs. RHE were obtained in ITO/BFO/ TiO2/Pt photocathode under 100 mW/cm(2) Xe-lamp illumination. TiO2 functions as a buffer layer to remove the upward barrier between BFO and Pt, and makes the photogenerated carriers separate efficiently. The photocathode also shows high stability in acid solution after a 10-h PEC continuous testing. Published by AIP Publishing.

• 出版日期2017-9-18
• 单位苏州大学