Enhanced ferroelectric photoelectrochemical properties of polycrystalline BiFeO{sub 3} film by decorating with Ag nanoparticles

Journal Article · Mon Jan 11 00:00:00 EST 2016 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4939747· OSTI ID:22489293

Liu, Qing; Shen, Mingrong; Fang, Liang ^[1]; Zhou, Yang; You, Lu; Wang, Junling ^[2]

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1. College of Physics, Optoelectronics and Energy and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Thin Films, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006 (China)
2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore 639798 (Singapore)

Polycrystalline BiFeO{sub 3} (BFO) films are fabricated on Pt/Ti/SiO{sub 2}/Si(100) substrate as photoelectrode using sol-gel method. The microstructure, optical, and photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of the films are characterized and optimized by controlling the film thickness. Moreover, the PEC properties of the BFO films are dependent on ferroelectric polarization, which is mainly ascribed to the modulation of band structure at the BFO/electrolyte interface by the polarization. Further enhancement of PEC properties is obtained by decorating the samples with appropriate amounts of Ag nanoparticles, which is attributed to the reduced electron-hole recombination, and localized surface plasmon resonance effect of Ag nanoparticles.

• OSTI ID: 22489293
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 108, Issue 2; Other Information: (c) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ELECTROLYTES
FERROELECTRIC MATERIALS
FILMS
HOLES
INTERFACES
MICROSTRUCTURE
MODULATION
NANOPARTICLES
POLARIZATION
POLYCRYSTALS
SILICON OXIDES
SOL-GEL PROCESS
SURFACES
THICKNESS