Enhancement of photoelectrochemical performance in ferroelectric films via the introduction of an Au buffer layer

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (11) ◽  
pp. 112701
Author(s):  
Dawei Cao ◽  
Ming Li ◽  
Jianfei Zhu ◽  
Yanfang He ◽  
Tong Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Buffer Layer ◽  
Water Splitting ◽  
Charge Separation ◽  
Sol Gel ◽  
Ferroelectric Films ◽  
Photoelectrochemical Performance ◽  
Band Bending ◽  
Polarization Electric Field ◽  
Pec Water Splitting

Abstract The inefficient separation of photogenerated carriers has become a serious problem that limits the photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of semiconductors. Herein, a sol-gel method was used to prepare BiFeO3 ferroelectric thin films with FTO and FTO/Au as substrates, respectively. The polarization electric field of the ferroelectric can more effectively separate the carriers generated in the photoelectrode. Meanwhile, the introduction of an Au buffer layer can reduce the resistance in the process of charge transfer, accelerate the carrier migration, and enhance the efficiency of the charge separation. Under light irradiation, Au/BiFeO3 photoelectrode exhibited an extraordinary improvement in PEC water splitting compared with BiFeO3. In addition, the ferroelectric polarization electric field causes band bending, which further accelerates the separation of electrons and holes and improves the PEC performance of the photoelectrode. This work promotes the effective application of ferroelectric films in PEC water splitting.

Boosting photocatalytic water splitting by tuning built-in electric field at phase junction

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (17) ◽  
pp. 10264-10272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Xuebing Chen ◽  
Yu Bai ◽  
Chun Li ◽  
Ying Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Water Splitting ◽  
Charge Separation ◽  
Driving Force ◽  
Photocatalytic Water Splitting ◽  
Spatial Charge

Constructing a built-in electric field at the interface of semiconductors has been demonstrated to provide the driving force for spatial charge separation in photocatalysis.

Controllable synthesis of CdS/WO3 heterostructures with enhanced photoelectrochemical performance

RSC Advances ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (20) ◽  
pp. 16668-16672 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Liu ◽  
Yingde Cui ◽  
Feiyan Huang ◽  
Xinzhe Yang
Keyword(s):  
Water Splitting ◽  
Environmental Problems ◽  
Controllable Synthesis ◽  
Photoelectrochemical Performance ◽  
Pec Water Splitting

With the increasing energy and environmental problems, photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting has recently attracted a great deal of attention.

scholarly journals Sb2S3/TiO2 Heterojunction Photocathodes: Band Alignment and Water Splitting Properties

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajiv Ramanujam Prabhakar ◽  
Thomas Moehl ◽  
Sebastian Siol ◽  
Jihye Suh ◽  
David Tilley
Keyword(s):  
Buffer Layer ◽  
Water Splitting ◽  
Elemental Sulfur ◽  
Band Alignment ◽  
Band Bending ◽  
Co Catalyst ◽  
Conduction Band Offset ◽  
Photovoltaic Applications ◽  
Earth Abundant ◽  
Further Development

<p>Antimony sulfide (Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>) is a promising light absorbing semiconductor for photovoltaic applications, though it remains vastly unexplored for photoelectrochemical water splitting. Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub> was synthesized by a simple sulfurization of electrodeposited antimony metal at relatively low temperatures (240-300°C) with elemental sulfur. Using a TiO<sub>2</sub> buffer layer and a platinum co-catalyst, photocurrent densities up to ~ 9 mA cm<sup>-2</sup> were achieved at -0.4 V vs. RHE in 1 M H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> under one sun illumination. Using XPS band alignment studies and potential dependent IPCE measurements, a conduction band offset of 0.7 eV was obtained for the Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>/TiO<sub>2 </sub>junction as well as an unfavorable band bending at the heterointerface, which explains the low photovoltage that was observed (~ 0.1 V).<sub> </sub>Upon inserting an In<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub> buffer layer, which offers a better band alignment, a 0.15 V increase in photovoltage was obtained. The excellent PEC performance and the identification of the origin of the low photovoltage of the Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub> photocathodes in this work pave the way for the further development of this promising earth abundant light absorbing semiconductor for solar fuels generation.</p>

On the Origin of the Electric Field of Polarization in a Gravitational Plasma

1973 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 587-591
Author(s):  
M. Fridman
Keyword(s):  
Correlation Function ◽  
External Field ◽  
Differential Equations ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Charge Separation ◽  
Charged Particles ◽  
Ion Plasma ◽  
Polarization Electric Field ◽  
Induced Changes

The theories developed to explain the expansion of charged particles from the atmosphere always involve an electric field of charge separation of gravitational origin. A theory is proposed replacing the quasi-neutral sources by a plasma polarization due to the external field of gravity.Assuming that the penetrated Debye clouds are distorted by gravity and hence provide the sources, the induced changes in the correlation function are evaluated. The formalism giving the polarization electric field is verified by using the solution of the differential equations for gravitation correlation in the simplest case of an electron and single ion plasma.

scholarly journals Photoreflectance study of the GaAs buffer layer in InAs/GaAs quantum dots

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 56-60
Author(s):  
Diego Javier Sánchez Trujillo ◽  
Jhon Jairo Prías Barragán ◽  
Hernando Ariza Calderón ◽  
Álvaro Orlando Pulzara Mora ◽  
Máximo López López
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Dots ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Buffer Layer ◽  
Surface Passivation ◽  
Bending Energy ◽  
Gaas Sample ◽  
Band Bending ◽  
Gaas Buffer Layer ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
The Difference

GaAs buffer layer in InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) was investigated by Photoreflectance (PR) technique at 300 K. PR spectra obtained were compared with commercial GaAs sample PR spectra, and they were analyzed by using the derivative Lorentzian functions as proposed by Aspnes in the middle field regimen. PR spectra in InAs/GaAs QDs sample was attributed to the photoreflectance response in the GaAs buffer layer. Band bending energies were calculated for laser intensities from 1 mW to 21 mW. The photoreflectance comparative study in the samples was realized considering the difference in the parameters: electric field on the surface, broadening parameter, energy gained by photoexcited carriers due to the electric field applied, frequency of light and heavy holes and band bending energy values. The results suggest that the presence of InAs quantum dots increases the light and heavy holes frequencies and the band bending energy values; and decreases the electric field on the surface, the broadening parameter and the energy gained by photoexcited carriers. We found that InAs QDs presence modifies the surface electrical field around one order of magnitude in the GaAs buffer layer and this behavior can be attributed to surface passivation.

scholarly journals Enhanced photoelectrochemical performance of LaFeO3 photocathode with Au buffer layer

RSC Advances ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (46) ◽  
pp. 26780-26786 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peipei Wang ◽  
Yanfang He ◽  
Yan Mi ◽  
Jianfei Zhu ◽  
Faling Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetron Sputtering ◽  
Buffer Layer ◽  
Sol Gel ◽  
Photoelectrochemical Performance ◽  
Remarkable Improvement ◽  
Sol Gel Process

Au/LFO obtained by facile magnetron sputtering and sol–gel process presents a remarkable improvement in photocurrent up to −19.60 μA cm−2.

ENHANCED MULTIFERROIC PROPERTIES OF BiFeO3 CERAMICS BY Mo DOPING

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (18) ◽  
pp. 1521-1528 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. ZHANG ◽  
G. Q. ZHANG ◽  
J. MIAO ◽  
X. G. XU ◽  
Y. JIANG
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Properties ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Phase Structure ◽  
Ferroelectric Properties ◽  
Sol Gel ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Multiferroic Properties ◽  
Mo Doping ◽  
Polarization Electric Field

We have investigated the magnetic and electrical properties of multiferroic BiFe 1-x Mo x O 3 ceramics ( BFMO , x = 0.0%, 0.2%, 0.5% and 0.8%) prepared by the sol–gel method. The phase structure of BFMO samples were confirmed by X-ray diffraction. It was found that the substitution of Mo is responsible for the increasing of the magnetization in BFMO ceramics. Moreover, both dielectric and polarization-electric field properties suggest that the Mo doping could improve the dielectric and ferroelectric properties in BFMO ceramic.

scholarly journals Electrodeposition of cuprous oxide on a porous copper framework for an improved photoelectrochemical performance

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Kurniawan ◽  
Michael Stich ◽  
Mayra Marimon ◽  
Magali Camargo ◽  
Ralf Peipmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Splitting ◽  
Optical Transmittance ◽  
Photoelectrochemical Performance ◽  
Free Standing ◽  
Pore Networks ◽  
Porous Copper ◽  
Cu Substrates ◽  
Feasible Alternative ◽  
Pec Cells ◽  
Pec Water Splitting

Abstract Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting can be an efficient and economically feasible alternative for hydrogen production if easily processed photoelectrodes made of inexpensive and abundant materials are employed. Here, we present the preparation of porous Cu2O photocathodes with good PEC performance using solely inexpensive electrodeposition methods. Firstly, porous Cu structures with delicate pore networks were deposited on flat Cu substrates employing hydrogen-bubble-assisted Cu deposition. In a second electrodeposition step, the porous Cu structures were mechanically reinforced and subsequently detached from the substrates to obtain free-standing porous frameworks. In a third and final step, photoactive Cu2O films were electrodeposited. The PEC water splitting performance in 0.5 M Na2SO4 (pH ∼6) shows that these photocathodes have photocurrents of up to −2.25 mA cm−2 at 0 V versus RHE while maintaining a low dark current. In contrast, the Cu2O deposited on a flat Cu sample showed photocurrents only up to −1.25 mA cm−2. This performance increase results from the significantly higher reactive surface area while maintaining a thin and homogeneous Cu2O layer with small grain sizes and therefore higher hole concentrations as determined by Mott-Schottky analysis. The free-standing porous Cu2O samples show a direct optical transmittance of 23% (λ = 400–800 nm) and can therefore be used in tandem structures with a photoanode in full PEC cells. Graphical abstract

scholarly journals Influence of Bio-Based Surfactants on TiO2 Thin Films as Photoanodes for Electro-Photocatalysis

Catalysts ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1228
Author(s):  
Fanny Duquet ◽  
Amr Ahmed Nada ◽  
Matthieu Rivallin ◽  
Florence Rouessac ◽  
Christina Villeneuve-Faure ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Films ◽  
Cyclic Voltammetry ◽  
Water Splitting ◽  
Preparation Method ◽  
Sol Gel ◽  
Direct Relation ◽  
Photoelectrochemical Performance ◽  
Tio2 Thin Films ◽  
Structure Morphology ◽  
Gel Preparation

Photocatalytic water splitting into hydrogen is considered as one of the key solutions to the current demand for eco-responsible energy. To improve the efficiency and sustainability of this process, the development of a TiO2-based photoanode by adding bio-sourced surfactants to the sol–gel preparation method has been considered. Three different polymeric biosurfactants (GB, GC, and BIO) have been tested, giving rise to three different materials being structurally and morphologically characterized by XRD, Rietveld refinement, BET, SEM, AFM, and XPS, which was completed by light absorption, photocatalytic (Pilkington test), electronic (EIS and C-AFM), and photoelectrochemical (cyclic voltammetry) measurements. Correlations between the structure/morphology of materials and their functional properties have been established. One specific surfactant has been proven as the most suitable to lead to materials with optimized photoelectrochemical performance in direct relation with their photocatalytic properties essentially controlled by their specific surface area.

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