Preparation of p-type Fe2O3 nanoarray and its performance as photocathode for photoelectrochemical water splitting

作者：Xiaoli Fan, Fei Zhu, Zeyi Wang, Wang Xi, Yi Zou, Bin Gao, Li Song, Jianping He, Tao Wang · 发表于：Frontiers in Chemistry · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.3389/fchem.2025.1526745 · 被引用次数：7 · 研究领域：Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques、Iron oxide chemistry and applications、Copper-based nanomaterials and applications

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting has the potential to convert solar energy into chemical energy, emerging as a promising alternative to fossil fuel combustion. In PEC systems, p-type semiconductors are particularly noteworthy for their ability to directly produce hydrogen. In this work, Fe 2 O 3 with p-type semiconductor properties grown directly on the conductive glass substrate were successfully synthesized through a simple one-step hydrothermal method. The analysis results indicate that the Fe 2 O 3 exhibits a spindle shaped nanoarray structure and possesses a small band gap, thereby demonstrating excellent photoelectrochemical performance as a photocathode with photocurrent density of −23 μA cm −2 at 0.4 V vs. RHE. Further band structure tests reveal that its conduction band position is more negative compared to the hydrogen evolution potential, highlighting its significant potential as a photocathode material.