Engineering Surface Passivation and Hole Transport Layer on Hematite Photoanodes Enabling Robust Photoelectrocatalytic Water Oxidation

Abstract

Regulation of charge transport at the molecular level is essential to elucidating the kinetics of junction photoelectrodes across the heterointerface for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation. Herein, an integrated photoanode as the prototype was constructed by use of a 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin-cobalt molecule (CoTCPP) and ZnO on hematite (α-Fe 2 O 3 ) photoanode. CoTCPP molecules serve as a typical hole transport layer (HTL), accelerating the transport of the photogenerated holes to oxygen evolution cocatalysts (OECs). Meanwhile, ZnO as the surface passivation layer (SPL) can passivate the interfacial state and reduce the level of electron leakage from hematite into the electrolyte. After the integration of OECs, the state-of-the-art α-Fe 2 O 3 /ZnO/CoTCPP/ OECs photoanode exhibits a distinguished photocurrent density and excellent stability in comparison with pristine α-Fe 2 O 3 . The simultaneous incorporation of a ZnO and CoTCPP dual interlayer can effectively modulate the interfacial photoinduced charge transfer for PEC reaction. This work provides in-depth insights into interfacial charge transfer across junction electrodes and identifies the critical roles of solar PEC conversion.

Shaping the Future of the Neurotransmitter Sensor: Tailored CdS Nanostructures for State-of-the-Art Self-Powered Photoelectrochemical Devices

“…The cutting-edge photoelectrochemical (PEC) analysis technology stands out with its extraordinary sensitivity and selectivity, operating on the fundamental principle of transforming light energy into electrical energy to enable precise examination of chemical substances in samples through electrochemical reactions. − With its vast potential for revolutionizing portable noninvasive DA monitoring systems, PEC analysis technology encounters challenges due to specific factors like limited photon absorption, restricted carrier directional transfer, and sluggish redox rates at interfaces. − Henceforth, it becomes crucial to engineer highly efficient photoelectronic semiconductor nanomaterials capable of maximizing photon utilization while enhancing photoelectric conversion efficiency …”