Influence of optical properties on the photoelectrochemical performance of hematite nanostructures

• Grant number: 24/06945-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: November 01, 2024
• End date: October 31, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Flavio Leandro de Souza
• Grantee: Mariana Amaral Dotta
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Metal oxide semiconductors have been widely explored as photoelectrodes in photoelectrochemical devices for green hydrogen production towards a carbon-free economy. Among those, hematite stands out due to its abundance in Earth's crust, light absorption in visible wavelengths, and stability in aqueous solutions. Although significant advancements have been achieved by enhancing the charge dynamics of this material, optimizing its light absorption, which directly correlates with its photoelectrochemical performance, still remais a challenge. This project aims to develop highly efficient hematite photoanodes that combine recent advances in interface engineering and doping with a new optimization of the optical properties of semiconductor films through a polymeric precursor solution methodology with promising industrial application, expanding the application of these materials in photoelectrochemical devices.