Hematite Photoanodes modified with an Fe(III) water oxidation catalyst

Hematite photoelectrodes prepared via a hydrothermal route are functionalized with a water oxidation catalyst consisting of amorphous Fe III oxide, obtained by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction. The performances of the catalyst-modified photoanodes are considerably higher than those of the parent electrodes, resulting in a nearly doubled photoanodic current in all the basic aqueous electrolytes explored in this study. The combination of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and laser flash photolysis indicates that the presence of the catalyst results in enhanced hole trapping in surface reactive states exposed to the electrolyte, allowing for a more successful competition between charge transfer and recombination. Rust on Rust: hematite photoelectrodes modified with FeIII amorphous water oxidation catalysts obtained by surface ionic layer adsorption and reaction display a considerable enhancement of the photoanodic performance due to hole trapping in reactive states exposed to the electrolyte, allowing for a more successful competition between charge transfer and recombination. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.