Dual modification on hematite to minimize small polaron effects and charge recombination for sustainable solar water splitting

Author(s):Show less -

Verissimo, Nathalia C. ; Pires, Fabio A. ; Rodriguez-Gutierrez, Ingrid ; Bettini, Jefferson ; Fiuza, Tanna E. R. ; Biffe, Cleyton A. ; Montoro, Fabiano E. ; Schleder, Gabriel R. ; Castro, Ricardo H. R. ; Leite, Edson R. ; Souza, Flavio L.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A; v. 12, n. 11, p. 15-pg., 2024-01-20.

Abstract

Hematite nanostructures are strong candidates for the development of sustainable water splitting technologies. However, major challenges exist in improving charge density and minimizing charge recombination rates for a competitive photoelectrochemical performance based on hematite without compromising sustainability aspects. Here we develop a synthetic strategy to leverage earth-abundant Al3+ and Zr4+ in a dual-chemical modification to synergistically minimize small polaron effects and interfacial charge recombination. The solution-based method simultaneously induces Al3+ doping of the hematite crystal lattice while Zr4+ forms interfacial excess, creating a single-phased homogeneous nanostructured thin film. The engineered photoanode increased photocurrent from 0.7 mA cm-2 for pristine hematite up to 4.5 mA cm-2 at 1.23 V and beyond 6.0 mA cm-2 when applying an overpotential of 300 mV under simulated sunlight illumination (100 mW cm-2). The results demonstrate the potential of dual-modification design using solution-based processes to enable sustainable energy technologies. A dual-modification strategy enables the design of hematite with synergistic Al3+ bulk doping and Zr4+ interfacial segregation for improved performance as a photoanode. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 23/08273-8 - Interface engineering in nanostructured hematite photoanodes produced via polymeric precursor solution method for solar water splitting
• Grantee: Fabio Augusto Pires
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 21/10672-2 - Correlating catalysis and self-healing in ceramics: Investigating metal mobility on ZrO2 thin-films by in-situ high-resolution transmission electron microscopy at the atomic scale
• Grantee: Tanna Elyn Rodrigues Fiuza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 17/02317-2 - Interfaces in materials: electronic, magnetic, structural and transport properties
• Grantee: Adalberto Fazzio
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 22/04150-6 - Study of nanoceramics for energy application: sintering and interface
• Grantee: Flavio Leandro de Souza
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• FAPESP's process: 17/11986-5 - Generation and storage of New Energy: bringing technological development for the country
• Grantee: Ana Flávia Nogueira
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research Centers in Engineering Program