Surface sulfurization activating hematite nanorods for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting

Interface engineering of nanoceramic hematite photoelectrode for solar energy conversion

“…In this perspective, Sn‐contribution in the overall nanoceramic hematite enhancement can be addressed by two different main effects: (a) reducing the energetic barrier decreasing the built‐in resistances and/or (b) enhancing the electrical field on the solid‐liquid interface which lead to an increment on the band bending (improving the charge separation) 42,25 …”

“…27 In this perspective, Sn-contribution in the overall nanoceramic hematite enhancement can be addressed by two different main effects: (a) reducing the energetic barrier decreasing the built-in resistances and/or (b) enhancing the electrical field on the solid-liquid interface which lead to an increment on the band bending (improving the charge separation). 42,25 In fact, Sn-addition increased the photocurrent response; however, it shifted the onset to higher potential. The back and front-side illumination (Figure 2A,B) revealed insights about charge transport mechanism.…”

“…These parameters are coupled in a way that each efficiency is dependent to the other, and the balance among the modifier additions is a duty not easily to be achieved. In this regard, intense investigations have been dedicated to select elements or materials to overcome hematite limitations, by boosting the charge separation ( η sep ) and surface ( η cat ) efficiencies by doping, 10‐15 carbon‐based modifications, 16,17 passivation layers, 18‐20 and others 21‐25 …”

“…In this regard, intense investigations have been dedicated to select elements or materials to overcome hematite limitations, by boosting the charge separation (η sep ) and surface (η cat ) efficiencies by doping, [10][11][12][13][14][15] carbon-based modifications, 16,17 passivation layers, [18][19][20] and others. [21][22][23][24][25] From the η sep perspective, the addition of Ti, Sn, and Sb elements have demonstrated to be promising candidates on enhancing the electronic conductivity and, consequently, the efficiency in charge separation. 11,24,[26][27][28][29][30] Besides, the target of these elements addition is similar (η sep ), but how they act in the system can be in distinct ways: (a) Increasing the number of donor density number when doping, (b) improving the bulk electronic conductivity by decreasing the voltage barrier at grain boundary, (c) increasing the band bending, fomenting the charge separation or even (d) the combination of them.…”

An integrated thermoelectric-assisted photoelectrochemical system to boost water splitting

“…Hydrogen production from solar-driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a promising way to convert intermittent solar energy into storable chemical fuels [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Photoelectrodes with semiconducting photoactive materials [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18], the central parts of PEC cells, both harvest incident sunlight and induce water splitting reactions [19,20]. Considering the requirements of both fully utilizing solar energy and providing photo-generated charge carriers with sufficient energy for spontaneous water splitting, ideal photoactive materials for photoelectrodes in singlephotoelectrode PEC cells ( Fig.…”