Back to Search
Start Over
Aligning Fe2O3 photo-sheets on TiO2 nanofibers with hydrophilic and aerophobic surface for boosting photoelectrochemical performance.
- Source :
- Nano Research; Mar2023, Vol. 16 Issue 3, p4178-4187, 10p
- Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- Photoelectrochemical (PEC) nanomaterials are critical to producing clean oxygenation or value-added chemical production by utilizing sustainable solar energy, but are always limited by simultaneous integration of architectural engineering and electronic regulation in one structure. Directed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and finite element analysis (FEA), the bio-inspired ivy-like Fe<subscript>2</subscript>O<subscript>3</subscript> heterostructures with enriched oxygen defects on TiO<subscript>2</subscript> nanofibers are designed for boosting PEC performances. Ivy-like Fe<subscript>2</subscript>O<subscript>3</subscript> photo-sheets remarkably enhanced the light harvesting by multiple light-mater interactions. The oxygen vacancies on Fe<subscript>2</subscript>O<subscript>3</subscript> photo-sheets could aid the photons catching and promote the reactivity at active sites. More importantly, demonstrated by a well-designed dynamic observation, the abundant tip-edges within ivy-like Fe<subscript>2</subscript>O<subscript>3</subscript> photo-sheets enabled the surface of heterostructure with hydrophilic and aerophobic properties. The functionalized surface allowed the rapid desorption of produced bubbles and thus ensured a high density of unoccupied active sites for electrolyte accessing. Featured by these attributes, the Fe<subscript>2</subscript>O<subscript>3</subscript>@TiO<subscript>2</subscript> nanofibers delivered an excellent photocurrent of 40.8 mA/mg, high donor density (1.2 × 10<superscript>18</superscript> cm<superscript>−3</superscript>), and rapid oxygen production rate (1 mmol/(L·h)). This work demonstrates a new strategy on nano-structural design for enhancing light-harvesting and making a hydrophilic/aerophobic surface on low-dimensional oxide nanomaterial, holding great potential on designing high-performance PEC devices for producing survival source gas, carbon-neutral fuel, and valued-chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19980124
- Volume :
- 16
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Nano Research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 162699223
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-022-4893-2