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Enhancing the Water Splitting Efficiency of Sn‐Doped Hematite Nanoflakes by Flame Annealing |
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| Authors: | Dr. Lei Wang Dr. Chong‐Yong Lee Dr. Anca Mazare Dr. Kiyoung Lee Julian Müller Prof. Dr. Erdmann Spiecker Prof. Dr. Patrik Schmuki |
| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, WW4‐LKO, University of Erlangen‐Nuremburg, Martensstr. 7, 91058 Erlangen (Germany), Fax: (+49)?9131 85 275 82;2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Center for Nanoanalysis and Electron Microscopy (CENEM), University of Erlangen‐Nuremburg, Cauerstrasse 6, 91058 Erlangen (Germany);3. Department of Chemistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) |
| Abstract: | The effect of flame annealing on the water‐splitting properties of Sn decorated hematite (α‐Fe2O3) nanoflakes has been investigated. It is shown that flame annealing can yield a considerable enhancement in the maximum photocurrent under AM 1.5 (100 mW cm?2) conditions compared to classic furnace annealing treatments. Optimizing the annealing time (10 s at 1000 °C) leads to a photocurrent of 1.1 mA cm?2 at 1.23 V (vs. RHE) with a maximum value 1.6 mA cm?2 at 1.6 V (vs. RHE) in 1 M KOH. The improvement in photocurrent can be attributed to the fast direct heating that maintains the nanoscale morphology, leads to optimized Sn decoration, and minimizes detrimental substrate effects. |
| Keywords: | doping hematite nanoflakes water splitting |