Effect of Fe2O3 coating on ZnO nanowires in photoelectrochemical water splitting: A synchrotron x-ray spectroscopic and spectromicroscopic investigation

Y. R. Lu; Y. F. Wang; H. W. Chang; Y. C. Huang; J. L. Chen; C. L. Chen; Y. C. Lin; Y. G. Lin; W. F. Pong; T. Ohigashi; N. Kosugi; C. H. Kuo; W. C. Chou; C. L. Dong

doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2020.110469

Effect of Fe₂O₃ coating on ZnO nanowires in photoelectrochemical water splitting: A synchrotron x-ray spectroscopic and spectromicroscopic investigation

Y. R. Lu, Y. F. Wang, H. W. Chang, Y. C. Huang, J. L. Chen, C. L. Chen, Y. C. Lin, Y. G. Lin, W. F. Pong, T. Ohigashi, N. Kosugi, C. H. Kuo, W. C. Chou^*, C. L. Dong^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Electrophysics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

An array of ZnO/Fe₂O₃ core-shell nanowires (NW) for the highly efficient absorption of light and carrier collection is developed for use in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting. The oriented NW architecture favors physical matching, providing a direct electron conduction pathway and reducing the diffusion length of photogenerated holes. This work involves a combination of spectral imaging, spectromicroscopy and in situ x-ray absorption spectroscopy; spectra are obtained under operando conditions. Direct investigation of oriented nanowires using polarization-dependent x-ray spectromicroscopy enables the determination of the relationship between anisotropic electronic orbitals and charge carrier water-splitting efficiency. The results of O K-edge STXM demonstrated that the ZnO/Fe₂O₃ core-shell NW exhibits strong anisotropy and thus provides higher electron-hole transport efficiency than bare ZnO. In situ XAS revealed that interfacial charge transfer between Fe 3d and Zn 4p states enhances the photoelectrochemical reaction in the ZnO/Fe₂O₃ core-shell NW. The photogenerated electrons of Fe₂O₃ are transferred from Fe 3d states to the Zn 4p state under photoelectrochemical conditions.

Original language	English
Article number	110469
Number of pages	7
Journal	Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
Volume	209
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2020.110469
State	Published - 1 Jun 2020

Keywords

In situ x-ray absorption spectroscopy
PEC water splitting
Scanning transmission x-ray microscope

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This output contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goal(s)

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Lu, Y. R., Wang, Y. F., Chang, H. W., Huang, Y. C., Chen, J. L., Chen, C. L., Lin, Y. C., Lin, Y. G., Pong, W. F., Ohigashi, T., Kosugi, N., Kuo, C. H., Chou, W. C., & Dong, C. L. (2020). Effect of Fe₂O₃ coating on ZnO nanowires in photoelectrochemical water splitting: A synchrotron x-ray spectroscopic and spectromicroscopic investigation. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 209, [110469]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2020.110469

Lu, Y. R. ; Wang, Y. F. ; Chang, H. W. ; Huang, Y. C. ; Chen, J. L. ; Chen, C. L. ; Lin, Y. C. ; Lin, Y. G. ; Pong, W. F. ; Ohigashi, T. ; Kosugi, N. ; Kuo, C. H. ; Chou, W. C. ; Dong, C. L. / Effect of Fe₂O₃ coating on ZnO nanowires in photoelectrochemical water splitting : A synchrotron x-ray spectroscopic and spectromicroscopic investigation. In: Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. 2020 ; Vol. 209.

@article{2bc8729d2ae54c319d1d2ccc9abd0360,

title = "Effect of Fe2O3 coating on ZnO nanowires in photoelectrochemical water splitting: A synchrotron x-ray spectroscopic and spectromicroscopic investigation",

abstract = "An array of ZnO/Fe2O3 core-shell nanowires (NW) for the highly efficient absorption of light and carrier collection is developed for use in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting. The oriented NW architecture favors physical matching, providing a direct electron conduction pathway and reducing the diffusion length of photogenerated holes. This work involves a combination of spectral imaging, spectromicroscopy and in situ x-ray absorption spectroscopy; spectra are obtained under operando conditions. Direct investigation of oriented nanowires using polarization-dependent x-ray spectromicroscopy enables the determination of the relationship between anisotropic electronic orbitals and charge carrier water-splitting efficiency. The results of O K-edge STXM demonstrated that the ZnO/Fe2O3 core-shell NW exhibits strong anisotropy and thus provides higher electron-hole transport efficiency than bare ZnO. In situ XAS revealed that interfacial charge transfer between Fe 3d and Zn 4p states enhances the photoelectrochemical reaction in the ZnO/Fe2O3 core-shell NW. The photogenerated electrons of Fe2O3 are transferred from Fe 3d states to the Zn 4p state under photoelectrochemical conditions.",

keywords = "In situ x-ray absorption spectroscopy, PEC water splitting, Scanning transmission x-ray microscope",

author = "Lu, {Y. R.} and Wang, {Y. F.} and Chang, {H. W.} and Huang, {Y. C.} and Chen, {J. L.} and Chen, {C. L.} and Lin, {Y. C.} and Lin, {Y. G.} and Pong, {W. F.} and T. Ohigashi and N. Kosugi and Kuo, {C. H.} and Chou, {W. C.} and Dong, {C. L.}",

year = "2020",

month = jun,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.solmat.2020.110469",

language = "English",

volume = "209",

journal = "Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells",

issn = "0927-0248",

publisher = "Elsevier BV",

}

Lu, YR, Wang, YF, Chang, HW, Huang, YC, Chen, JL, Chen, CL, Lin, YC, Lin, YG, Pong, WF, Ohigashi, T, Kosugi, N, Kuo, CH, Chou, WC & Dong, CL 2020, 'Effect of Fe₂O₃ coating on ZnO nanowires in photoelectrochemical water splitting: A synchrotron x-ray spectroscopic and spectromicroscopic investigation', Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, vol. 209, 110469. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2020.110469

Effect of Fe₂O₃ coating on ZnO nanowires in photoelectrochemical water splitting : A synchrotron x-ray spectroscopic and spectromicroscopic investigation. / Lu, Y. R.; Wang, Y. F.; Chang, H. W.; Huang, Y. C.; Chen, J. L.; Chen, C. L.; Lin, Y. C.; Lin, Y. G.; Pong, W. F.; Ohigashi, T.; Kosugi, N.; Kuo, C. H.; Chou, W. C.; Dong, C. L.

In: Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Vol. 209, 110469, 01.06.2020.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Effect of Fe2O3 coating on ZnO nanowires in photoelectrochemical water splitting

T2 - A synchrotron x-ray spectroscopic and spectromicroscopic investigation

AU - Lu, Y. R.

AU - Wang, Y. F.

AU - Chang, H. W.

AU - Huang, Y. C.

AU - Chen, J. L.

AU - Chen, C. L.

AU - Lin, Y. C.

AU - Lin, Y. G.

AU - Pong, W. F.

AU - Ohigashi, T.

AU - Kosugi, N.

AU - Kuo, C. H.

AU - Chou, W. C.

AU - Dong, C. L.

PY - 2020/6/1

Y1 - 2020/6/1

N2 - An array of ZnO/Fe2O3 core-shell nanowires (NW) for the highly efficient absorption of light and carrier collection is developed for use in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting. The oriented NW architecture favors physical matching, providing a direct electron conduction pathway and reducing the diffusion length of photogenerated holes. This work involves a combination of spectral imaging, spectromicroscopy and in situ x-ray absorption spectroscopy; spectra are obtained under operando conditions. Direct investigation of oriented nanowires using polarization-dependent x-ray spectromicroscopy enables the determination of the relationship between anisotropic electronic orbitals and charge carrier water-splitting efficiency. The results of O K-edge STXM demonstrated that the ZnO/Fe2O3 core-shell NW exhibits strong anisotropy and thus provides higher electron-hole transport efficiency than bare ZnO. In situ XAS revealed that interfacial charge transfer between Fe 3d and Zn 4p states enhances the photoelectrochemical reaction in the ZnO/Fe2O3 core-shell NW. The photogenerated electrons of Fe2O3 are transferred from Fe 3d states to the Zn 4p state under photoelectrochemical conditions.

AB - An array of ZnO/Fe2O3 core-shell nanowires (NW) for the highly efficient absorption of light and carrier collection is developed for use in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting. The oriented NW architecture favors physical matching, providing a direct electron conduction pathway and reducing the diffusion length of photogenerated holes. This work involves a combination of spectral imaging, spectromicroscopy and in situ x-ray absorption spectroscopy; spectra are obtained under operando conditions. Direct investigation of oriented nanowires using polarization-dependent x-ray spectromicroscopy enables the determination of the relationship between anisotropic electronic orbitals and charge carrier water-splitting efficiency. The results of O K-edge STXM demonstrated that the ZnO/Fe2O3 core-shell NW exhibits strong anisotropy and thus provides higher electron-hole transport efficiency than bare ZnO. In situ XAS revealed that interfacial charge transfer between Fe 3d and Zn 4p states enhances the photoelectrochemical reaction in the ZnO/Fe2O3 core-shell NW. The photogenerated electrons of Fe2O3 are transferred from Fe 3d states to the Zn 4p state under photoelectrochemical conditions.

KW - In situ x-ray absorption spectroscopy

KW - PEC water splitting

KW - Scanning transmission x-ray microscope

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U2 - 10.1016/j.solmat.2020.110469

DO - 10.1016/j.solmat.2020.110469

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85079535613

VL - 209

JO - Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

JF - Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

SN - 0927-0248

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ER -