Light illuminated α-Fe2O3/Pt nanoparticles as water activation agent for photoelectrochemical water splitting

Scientific Reports
Xiaodong LiErqing Xie

Abstract

The photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is hampered by strong bonds of H2O molecules and low ionic conductivity of pure water. The photocatalysts dispersed in pure water can serve as a water activation agent, which provides an alternative pathway to overcome such limitations. Here we report that the light illuminated α-Fe2O3/Pt nanoparticles may produce a reservoir of reactive intermediates including H2O2, ·OH, OH(-) and H(+) capable of promoting the pure water reduction/oxidation half-reactions at cathode and highly photocatalytic-active TiO2/In2S3/AgInS2 photoanode, respectively. Remarkable photocurrent enhancement has been obtained with α-Fe2O3/Pt as water activation agent. The use of α-Fe2O3/Pt to promote the reactivity of pure water represents a new paradigm for reproducible hydrogen fuel provision by PEC water splitting, allowing efficient splitting of pure water without adding of corrosive chemicals or sacrificial agent.

References

Oct 13, 2006·Chemical Reviews·Tracy L Thompson, John T Yates
Feb 6, 2008·Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids·Hyun Suk JungSung Hoon Yoon
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Citations

Aug 18, 2017·Advanced Materials·Isabela Alves de CastroKourosh Kalantar-Zadeh
May 31, 2018·Chemical Communications : Chem Comm·Wei-Quan ChenChun-Hu Chen
Sep 24, 2015·Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP·Peng ZhaoBruce E Koel
Feb 13, 2020·Scientific Reports·Aminul IslamYun Hin Taufiq-Yap

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
transmission electron microscopy
light scattering
scanning

Software Mentioned

EIS Spectrum Analyser

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