Unconventional Disorder by Femtosecond Laser Irradiation in Fe2O3

Author(s):Show less -

Souza, Josiane C. ^[1] ; Ribeiro, Renan A. P. ^[2] ; da Trindade, Leticia G. ^[3] ; de Oliveira, Regiane C. ^[4] ; Costa, Leonardo D. ^[5] ; de Oliveira, Marisa C. ^[1] ; de Lazaro, Sergio R. ^[6] ; Sambrano, Julio R. ^[4] ; Mendonca, Cleber R. ^[7] ; de Boni, Leonardo ^[7] ; Pontes, Fenelon M. L. ^[3] ; de Oliveira, Adilson J. A. ^[5] ; Leite, Edson R. ^{[1, 8]} ; Longo, Elson ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Fed Univ Sao CarlosRINGGOLD, LIEC CDMF Dept Chem, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos - Brazil

^[2] State Univ Minas Gerais UEMG, Dept Chem, BR-35501170 Divinopolis - Brazil

^[3] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Dept Chem, BR-17033360 Bauru, SP - Brazil

^[4] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Modeling & Mol Simulat Grp, BR-17033360 Bauru, SP - Brazil

^[5] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Phys Dept, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos - Brazil

^[6] State Univ Ponta GrossaRINGGOLD, Dept Chem, BR-84030900 Ponta Grossa, Parana - Brazil

^[7] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Phys, Dept Phys & Mat Sci, BR-13566590 Sao Carlos - Brazil

^[8] Brazilian Ctr Res Energy & Mat CNPEM, Brazilian Nanotechnol Natl Lab LNNano, BR-13083100 Campinas - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ACS OMEGA; v. 6, n. 42, p. 28049-28062, OCT 26 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

This paper demonstrates that femtosecond laser-irradiated Fe2O3, materials containing a mixture of alpha-Fe2O3 and epsilon-Fe2O3 phases showed significant improvement in their photoelectrochemical performance and magnetic and optical properties. The absence of Raman-active vibrational modes in the irradiated samples and the changes in charge carrier emission observed in the photocurrent density results indicate an increase in the density of defects and distortions in the crystalline lattice when compared to the nonirradiated ones. The magnetization measurements at room temperature for the nonirradiated samples revealed a weak ferromagnetic behavior, whereas the irradiated samples exhibited a strong one. The optical properties showed a reduction in the band gap energy and a higher conductivity for the irradiated materials, causing a higher current density. Due to the high performance observed, it can be applied in dye-sensitized solar cells and water splitting processes. Quantum mechanical calculations based on density functional theory are in accordance with the experimental results, contributing to the elucidation of the changes caused by femtosecond laser irradiation at the molecular level, evaluating structural, energetic, and vibrational frequency parameters. The surface simulations enable the construction of a diagram that elucidates the changes in nanoparticle morphologies. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/11283-7 - Nonlinear photonics: spectroscopy and advanced processing of materials
• Grantee: Cleber Renato Mendonça
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• 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: 21/01651-1 - CDMF - Functional Materials Development Center: theoretical study of multifunctional materials with potential antiviral application
• Grantee: Marisa Carvalho de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral