We report the methodology and fabrication of α-Fe2O3 nanostructured photoelectrodes for water splitting applications. Thin films of α-Fe2O3 (hematite) were deposited onto nanostructured substrates (ZnO nanowires and TiO2 nanotubes) using filtered arc deposition (FAD). It is proposed that such nanostructured electrodes can overcome the poor absorption and high charge carrier recombination of planar α-Fe2O3 films used for water splitting. Results of the characterization and optimization of the α-Fe2O3 films and the nanostructured substrates are presented. The filtered arc deposition technique is shown to produce high purity α-Fe2O3 films. Results of preliminary studies of silicon doping of the hematite films are presented. The filtered arc deposition technique is shown to be suitable for coating highly structured substrates.
The short diffusion length of photo-excited charge carriers in Fe2O3 is one of the factors limiting the water splitting
efficiency of iron oxide based materials. To overcome this problem we are engineering transparent arrays of nanowires
to act as conducting substrates for the Fe2O3. To help understand the charge transport characteristics of the Fe2O3
component we report transient photocurrent measurements performed on an absorbing thin film of Fe2O3 deposited by
filtered arc deposition on conducting glass with a semi-transparent silver Schottky top contact. Ultraviolet laser pulses
were used to generate charge carriers near the surface and the resulting current transients were measured. A simulation
of this charge transport has also been developed. The sign of the observed transients was independent of applied bias,
consistent with a fully depleted film. The measurements also suggest that recombination may play a significant factor in
determining the transient shape. Further investigation is required to confidently predict mobilities.
Conference Committee Involvement (6)
Solar Hydrogen and Nanotechnology VI
23 August 2011 | San Diego, California, United States
Solar Hydrogen and Nanotechnology V
3 August 2010 | San Diego, California, United States
Solar Hydrogen and Nanotechnology IV
3 August 2009 | San Diego, California, United States
Solar Hydrogen and Nanotechnology III
11 August 2008 | San Diego, California, United States
Solar Hydrogen and Nanotechnology II
27 August 2007 | San Diego, California, United States
Solar Hydrogen and Nanotechnology
14 August 2006 | San Diego, California, United States
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