Discovering a selective semimetal element to increase hematite photoanode charge separation efficiency

Author(s)

Nogueira, Andre Esteves ^[1] ; Santos Soares, Mario Rodrigo ^[2] ; Souza Junior, Joao Batista ^[1] ; Ospina Ramirez, Carlos Alberto ^[1] ; Souza, Flavio Leandro ^{[1, 3]} ; Leite, Edson Roberto ^{[2, 1]}

Affiliation

^[1] Brazilian Ctr Res Energy & Mat CNPEM, Brazilian Nanotechnol Natl Lab LNNano, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Chem, Via Washington Luiz, Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Fed Univ ABC, Humanities & Nat Sci Ctr, Santo Andre, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A; v. 7, n. 28, p. 16992-16998, JUL 28 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

This work describes a colloidal deposition process that exploits the thermal spreading ability of Sb over a hematite surface to obtain a mesoporous film with extensive open porosity and high degree of Sb5+ dispersion. The addition of Sb increased the efficiency of water oxidation by a factor of 4.5 and photocurrent at 1.23 V-RHE by a factor of 6.5 compared to those of an unmodified hematite film prepared under the same conditions. The overall efficiency increase for water oxidation is attributed to more efficient charge separation. Sb was found to be an excellent selective semimetal modifier with high dispersion over the material. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/07296-2 - CDMF - Center for the Development of Functional Materials
• Grantee: Elson Longo da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
• FAPESP's process: 18/05159-1 - Static and dynamic self-assembly of inorganic nanoparticles
• Grantee: João Batista Souza Junior
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral