Why Tin-Doping Enhances the Efficiency of Hematite Photoanodes for Water Splitting—The Full Picture

Hufnagel AG, Hajiyani H, Zhang S, Li T, Kasian O, Gault B, Breitbach B, Bein T, Fattakhova-Rohlfing D, Scheu C, Pentcheva R (2018)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2018

Journal

Advanced Functional Materials Wiley-VCH Verlag

Book Volume: 28

Article Number: 1804472

Journal Issue: 52

DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201804472

Abstract

The beneficial effects of Sn(IV) as a dopant in ultrathin hematite (α-Fe2O3) photoanodes for water oxidation are examined. Different Sn concentration profiles are prepared by alternating atomic layer deposition of Fe2O3 and SnOx. Combined data from spectrophotometry and intensity-modulated photocurrent spectroscopy yields the individual process efficiencies for light harvesting, charge separation, and charge transfer. The best performing photoanodes are Sn-doped both on the surface and in the subsurface region and benefit from enhanced charge separation and transfer. Sn-doping throughout the bulk of the hematite photoanode causes segregation at the grain boundaries and hence a lower overall efficiency. Fe2O3 (0001) and terminations, shown to be dominant by microstructural analysis, are investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The energetics of surface intermediates during the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) reveal that while Sn-doping decreases the overpotential on the (0001) surface, the Fe2O3 orientation shows one of the lowest overpotentials reported for hematite so far. Electronic structure calculations demonstrate that Sn-doping on the surface also enhances the charge transfer efficiency by elimination of surface hole trap states (passivation) and that subsurface Sn-doping introduces a gradient of the band edges that reinforces the band bending at the semiconductor/electrolyte interface and thus boosts charge separation.

Involved external institutions

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) DE Germany (DE) Universität Duisburg-Essen (UDE) DE Germany (DE) Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH (MPIE) / Max Planck Institute for Iron Research DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Hufnagel, A.G., Hajiyani, H., Zhang, S., Li, T., Kasian, O., Gault, B.,... Pentcheva, R. (2018). Why Tin-Doping Enhances the Efficiency of Hematite Photoanodes for Water Splitting—The Full Picture. Advanced Functional Materials, 28(52). https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201804472

MLA:

Hufnagel, Alexander G., et al. "Why Tin-Doping Enhances the Efficiency of Hematite Photoanodes for Water Splitting—The Full Picture." Advanced Functional Materials 28.52 (2018).

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