Combined Effect of Underlayer and Deposition Solution to Optimize the Alignment of Hematite Photoanodes

Abstract

This study investigates the optimization of hematite (α-Fe 2 O 3 ) photoanodes for enhanced photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance and reproducibility, which are crucial for photocatalytic applications. Despite hematite's potential, hindered by inherent limitations, significant improvements were realized by introducing a titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) underlayer and ethanolmodified deposition. The influence of the deposition methods was understood by potential-dependent photoelectrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis. The introduction of the TiO 2 underlayer effectively increased the density of states, preferable for the electron transport in the bulk hematite, and the ethanol deposition on a TiO 2 underlayer led to a stable surface state formation (S1 state) for the photoexcited hole transfer. This analysis illuminated the intricate interplay between electron transport in the bulk and photogenerated hole transfer at the solution interface, thereby facilitating smoother charge transfer. These findings underscore the viability of surface engineering and meticulous process optimization in addressing critical challenges in photocatalyst development.

Subtraction Descriptors in Machine Learning for Optimizing the Cocatalyst Effect of Cobalt Phosphate on Hematite Photoanodes

“…Each interface and bulk is represented by a parallel connection of a resistor and a capacitor. In our previous study, the capacitor is modeled by a constant phase element (CPE) following Z CPE = 1 false( i ω ) n C where Z CPE is the CPE impedance, ω is the angular frequency, C is the capacitance, and n is the exponent varying from 0 to 1. When n equals 1, the component exhibits an ideal capacitor; when n becomes 0, the component is regarded as a perfect resistor.…”