A new method for the fabrication of a bilayer WO3/Fe2O3 photoelectrode for enhanced photoelectrochemical performance

Journal Article · Thu Feb 15 00:00:00 EST 2018 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2017.04.019· OSTI ID:22805367

Ng, Kim Hang; Mark-Lee, Wun Fui ^[1]; Arifin, Khuzaimah ^[2]; Jumali, Mohammad Hafizuddin Hj ^[2]; Kassim, Mohammad B. ^[2]

---

1. School of Chemical Sciences & Food Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor (Malaysia)
2. Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor (Malaysia)

Highlights: • A thin layer of Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} is layered on the electrodeposited WO{sub 3} photoelectrode. • The light absorption of WO{sub 3} was extended towards the visible light region, resulting higher photoelctrochemical performance. • Charge transfer mechanism in the bilayer photoanode was suggested. - Abstract: A bilayer WO{sub 3}/Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} heterojunction photoelectrode was prepared with a new approach for photoelectrochemical reactions. WO{sub 3} was deposited onto an FTO conductive glass substrate via electrodeposition, followed by the deposition of an ultrathin Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} layer using the chemical bath deposition method. The presence of Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} layer improved the light absorption of WO{sub 3}/Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} toward visible light region (red-shift). The addition of a thin layer of Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} on WO{sub 3} resulted in higher photocatalytic performance (two-fold improvement) compared to that of pristine WO{sub 3}. In addition, the WO{sub 3}/Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} photoelectrode also showed a positive photoresponse for methanol degradation. The photocurrent generation of the bilayer photoelectrode improved 1.6-fold with the addition of methanol as a sacrificial donor.

• OSTI ID: 22805367
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 98; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2017 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ABSORPTION
CHARGE TRANSPORT
ELECTRODEPOSITION
FABRICATION
GLASS
HETEROJUNCTIONS
IRON OXIDES
METHANOL
PHOTOANODES
PHOTOCATALYSIS
PHOTOCURRENTS
RED SHIFT
THIN FILMS
TUNGSTEN OXIDES
VISIBLE RADIATION