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Type: 
Journal
Description: 
Hematite (α-Fe2O3) is an earth-abundant indirect n-type semiconductor displaying a band gap of about 2.2 eV, useful for collecting a large fraction of visible photons, with frontier energy levels suitably aligned for carrying out the photoelectrochemical water oxidation reaction under basic conditions. The modification of hematite mesoporous thin-film photoanodes with Ti(IV), as well as their functionalization with an oxygen-evolving catalyst, leads to a 6-fold increase in photocurrent density with respect to the unmodified electrode. In order to provide a detailed understanding of this behavior, we report a study of Ti-containing phases within the mesoporous film structure. Using X-ray absorption fine structure and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy coupled with electron energy loss spectroscopy, we find that Ti(IV) ions are incorporated within ilmenite (FeTiO3) near-surface layers, thus modifying the …
Publisher: 
American Chemical Society
Publication date: 
28 Sep 2020
Authors: 

Serena Berardi, Jagadesh Kopula Kesavan, Lucia Amidani, Elia Marek Meloni, Marcello Marelli, Federico Boscherini, Stefano Caramori, Luca Pasquini

Biblio References: 
Volume: 12 Issue: 42 Pages: 47435-47446
Origin: 
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces