Sn/Be Sequentially co-doped Hematite Photoanodes for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation: Effect of Be(2+) as co-dopant.

ABSTRACT: For ex-situ co-doping methods, sintering at high temperatures enables rapid diffusion of Sn(4+) and Be(2+) dopants into hematite (α-Fe2O3) lattices, without altering the nanorod morphology or damaging their crystallinity. Sn/Be co-doping results in a remarkable enhancement in photocurrent (1.7 mA/cm(2)) compared to pristine α-Fe2O3 (0.7 mA/cm(2)), and Sn(4+) mono-doped α-Fe2O3 photoanodes (1.0 mA/cm(2)). From first-principles calculations, we found that Sn(4+) doping induced a shallow donor level below the conduction band minimum, which does not contribute to increase electrical conductivity and photocurrent because of its localized nature. Additionally, Sn(4+)-doping induce local micro-strain and a decreased Fe-O bond ordering. When Be(2+) was co-doped with Sn(4+)-doped α-Fe2O3 photoanode

SUBMITTER: Annamalai A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4804299 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature