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Aluminum–Α-Hematite Thin Films For Photoelectrochemical Applications

Author

Listed:
  • HUSSEIN ALROBEI

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA†Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj 11942, Saudi Arabia)

  • ASHOK KUMAR

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA)

  • MANOJ K. RAM

    (#x2021;Clean Energy Research Center, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA)

Abstract

In recent years, photoelectrochemical (PEC) based devices have become attractive due to production of hydrogen by splitting water using photocatalyst alpha (α)-hematite (Fe2O3) as an electrode material due to its bandgap, low cost, chemical stability and extreme abundance in nature. The α-Fe2O3 is also related to low carrier diffusion due to higher resistivity, slow surface kinetics, low electron mobility and higher electro–hole combination. The carrier mobility and carrier diffusion properties of α-Fe2O3 have been enhanced by doping as well as composite formation. Keeping in view the enhanced properties of α-Fe2O3, attempt is being made to dope and form composite using trivalent “aluminum” ions. The Al–α-Fe2O3 nanophotocatalytic materials were synthesized by varying the ratio of Al to α-Fe2O3 using sol–gel technique. The nanomaterials “α-Fe2O3 and Al–α-Fe2O3” were physically characterized through X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and UV–visible techniques, respectively. The diffusion coefficient of nanomaterials at the electrode/electrolyte interface was analyzed using electrochemical analysis. Interestingly, the presence of aluminum causes the α-Fe2O3 to change the structural, optical and morphological properties of nanomaterials. The bandgaps of α-Fe2O3 vary from 2.2eV to 2.45eV due to presence of aluminum in the structure. The photocurrent studied on Al–α-Fe2O3 based electrode clearly shows the enhanced hydrogen production under photoelectrochemical cell.

Suggested Citation

  • Hussein Alrobei & Ashok Kumar & Manoj K. Ram, 2018. "Aluminum–Α-Hematite Thin Films For Photoelectrochemical Applications," Surface Review and Letters (SRL), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 25(08), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:srlxxx:v:25:y:2018:i:08:n:s0218625x19500318
    DOI: 10.1142/S0218625X19500318
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