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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Tailoring a Zinc Oxide Nanorod Surface by Adding an Earth-Abundant Cocatalyst for Induced Sunlight Water Oxidation

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Author(s):
de Almeida, Rafael M. [1] ; Ferrari, Victoria C. [1, 2] ; Souza, Juliana dos S. [1] ; Souza, Flavio L. [1, 3] ; Alves, Wendel A. [1]
Total Authors: 5
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Fed ABC, Ctr Ciencias Nat & Humanas, BR-09210580 Santo Andre, SP - Brazil
[2] Univ Maryland, Dept Mat Sci & Engn, College Pk, MD 20742 - USA
[3] Brazilian Nanotechnol Natl Lab LNNano, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 3
Document type: Journal article
Source: ChemPhysChem; v. 21, n. 6, p. 476-483, MAR 17 2020.
Web of Science Citations: 1
Abstract

Herein, a detailed investigation of the surface modification of a zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod electrode with FeOOH nanoparticles dispersed in glycine was conducted to improve the water oxidation reaction assisted by sunlight. The results were systematically analysed in terms of the general parameters (light absorption, charge separation, and surface for catalysis) that govern the photocurrent density response of metal oxide as photoanode in a photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell. ZnO electrodes surface were modified with different concentration of FeOOH nanoparticles using the spin-coating deposition method, and it was found that 6-layer deposition of glycine-FeOOH nanoparticles is the optimum condition. The glycine plays an important role decreasing the agglomeration of FeOOH nanoparticles over the ZnO electrode surface and increasing the overall performance. Comparing bare ZnO electrodes with the ones modified with glycine-FeOOH nanoparticles an enhanced photocurrent density can be observed from 0.27 to 0.57 mA/cm(2) at 1.23 V-RHE under sunlight irradiation. The impedance spectroscopy data aid us to conclude that the higher photocurrent density is an effect associated with more efficient surface for chemical reaction instead of electronic improvement. Nevertheless, the charge separation efficiency remains low for this system. The present discovery shows that the combination of glycine-FeOOH nanoparticle is suitable and environmentally-friend cocatalyst to enhance the ZnO nanorod electrode activity for the oxygen evolution reaction assisted by sunlight irradiation. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 14/50867-3 - INCT 2014: National Institute of Science and Technology in Bioanalysis
Grantee:Marco Aurelio Zezzi Arruda
Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
FAPESP's process: 17/02317-2 - Interfaces in materials: electronic, magnetic, structural and transport properties
Grantee:Adalberto Fazzio
Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants