Candle flame-treatment as an effective strategy to enhance the photoelectrochemical properties of Ti-doped hematite thin films

Saeidi, Marjan; Yourdkhani, Amin; Ebrahimi, S A Seyed; Poursalehi, Reza

doi:10.1039/d0tc01795g

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

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“…In our previous study on the candle flame‐treatment of Ti‐doped hematite thin films, the presence of oxygen vacancies was demonstrated by using back and forth oxidizing and reducing flames. The obtained results showed that the photocurrent density decreased considerably upon using an oxidizing flame 44 …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…In our previous work, the details for the preparation of iron hexafluoride complex precursors were given. 44 A 40ml solution of 0.5 M boric acid, 10 ml of iron hexafluoride complex solution, and 15 ml deionized (DI) water were mixed to obtain the final treatment solution for the growth of hematite thin films. Zr-doping was performed by adding the appropriate amounts of 45 wt% hexafluorozirconic acid (H 2 ZrF 6 ) solution to the treatment solution.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This improvement was attributed to the higher light absorption by narrowing the band gap via flame‐annealing. Our previous work showed that the donor density of Ti‐doped hematite photoanodes was increased by the candle flame‐treatment, followed by a reduction in charge‐transfer resistance, thereby improving the PEC properties 44 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Liquid phase deposition (LPD) is a simple, low cost, and environmental‐friendly method for the growth of metal oxide thin films such as SiO 2 , 45 WO 3 , 46 TiO 2 , 47,48 ZrO 2 , 49 and Fe 2 O 3 50,51 onto different kinds of substrates. This method is based on the ligand‐exchange (hydrolysis) of metal–fluoro complex and consumption of

{{\rm{F}}^ - }

ion with boric acid or aluminum metal as a scavenger for fluoride ions 52–55 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our previous work showed that the donor density of Ti-doped hematite photoanodes was increased by the candle flame-treatment, followed by a reduction in charge-transfer resistance, thereby improving the PEC properties. 44 Liquid phase deposition (LPD) is a simple, low cost, and environmental-friendly method for the growth of metal oxide thin films such as SiO 2 , 45 WO 3 , 46 TiO 2 , 47,48 ZrO 2 , 49 and Fe 2 O 3 50,51 onto different kinds of substrates. This method is based on the ligand-exchange (hydrolysis) of metal-fluoro complex and consumption of F − ion with boric acid or aluminum metal as a scavenger for fluoride ions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Photoelectrochemical properties of butane reduced flame‐treated Zr‐doped hematite thin films

2022

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In this research, Zr‐doped hematite thin films were prepared by a simple and highly scalable liquid phase deposition method, and their photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties were investigated. The samples were post‐heat treated using a butane reduced flame. PEC studies revealed that both Zr‐doping and flame‐treatment enhanced the performance of the hematite photoanodes. The photocurrent densities of the samples were considerably increased upon flame‐treatment, that is, about 3.5 times for a 4% Zr‐doped sample. The highest photocurrent density at 1.23 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) was obtained, about 0.50 mA cm−2 for the 4% Zr‐doped sample, about five times higher than the undoped sample. The Mott–Schottky measurements revealed that the donor charge carrier density for the 4% Zr‐doped sample was increased fivefold upon flame‐treatment from 2.49 × 1019 to 1.38 × 1020 cm−3. The optical investigations showed that the optical band gap energy values depend on the level of Zr‐doping, and the sample with 4% Zr‐doping showed the lowest band gap energy value, about 1.82 eV. The mechanism behind the effectiveness of the flame‐treatment was investigated and attributed to the oxygen vacancy formation upon flame‐treatment. The formation of oxygen vacancies activates the donor doping, and as a result, the charge carrier density increases. In general, butane reduced flame‐treatment as a simple and effective strategy can be used as a post‐heat treatment to boost the PEC properties of hematite thin films.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%