Chemical activation; Doping (additives); Electrolytes; Hematite; Mesoporous materials; Scaffolds; Back illumination; Beneficial effects; Crystallite growth; Dopant activation; High temperature; Mesoporous films; Photoelectrolysis; Photogenerated holes; Semiconductor doping
Abstract :
[en] (Graph Presented). In this study, we report the synthesis of Ti-doped mesoporous hematite films by soft-templating for application as photoanodes in the photoelectrolysis of water (water splitting). Because the activation of the dopant requires a heat treatment at high temperature (≥800°C), it usually results in the collapse of the mesostructure. We have overcome this obstacle by using a temporary SiO2 scaffold to hinder crystallite growth and thereby maintain the mesoporosity. The beneficial effect of the activated dopant has been confirmed by comparing the photocurrent of doped and undoped films treated at different temperatures. The role of the mesostructure was investigated by comparing dense, collapsed, and mesoporous films heated at different temperatures and characterized under front and back illumination. It turns out that the preservation of the mesotructure enables a better penetration of the electrolyte into the film and therefore reduces the distance that the photogenerated holes have to travel to reach the electrolyte. As a result, we found that mesoporous films with dopant activation at 850°C perform better than comparable dense and collapsed films.
Disciplines :
Chemistry
Author, co-author :
Toussaint, Caroline ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie (sciences) > LCIS - GreenMAT
Tran, Hoang Son ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département ArGEnCo > Département Argenco : Secteur MS2F
Colson, Pierre ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie (sciences) > Département de chimie (sciences)
Dewalque, Jennifer ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie (sciences) > LCIS - GreenMAT
Vertruyen, Bénédicte ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie (sciences) > Chimie inorganique structurale
Gilbert, Bernard ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie (sciences) > Département de chimie (sciences)
Nguyen, Ngoc Duy ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de physique > Physique des solides, interfaces et nanostructures
Cloots, Rudi ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie (sciences) > LCIS - GreenMAT
Henrist, Catherine ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie (sciences) > LCIS - GreenMAT
Language :
English
Title :
Combining mesoporosity and Ti-doping in hematite films for water splitting
Publication date :
2015
Journal title :
Journal of Physical Chemistry. C, Nanomaterials and interfaces
ISSN :
1932-7447
eISSN :
1932-7455
Publisher :
American Chemical Society, Washington, United States - District of Columbia
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