Preparation of nanostructured p-NiO-Fe_2O_3 heterojunction and study of their enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting performance

摘要

The n-type α-Fe_2O_3 nanoflakes are deposited on the FTO substrate by a hydrothermal method and modified with p-type NiO nanoparticles to enhance the photoelectrochemical water splitting performance. X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, UV-visible and impedance spectroscopy analysis are carried out to study the structural, morphological, and electrochemical characteristics. Formation of p-n heterojunction is confirmed by an impedance spectroscopy analysis and explains the transport of charge carriers. NiO/α-Fe_2O_3 heterojunction thin film shows the enhancement in photocurrent density (1.55 mA/cm~2) compared to the α-Fe_2O_3 nanoflakes alone (0.08 mA/cm~2) under simulated solar radiation at applied potential 1V/RHE.