Question

Optoelectronic properties of hematite for water splitting

Answer 1

Solar Water Splitting: Progress Using Hematite (α‐Fe2O3) Photoelectrodes

Kevin Sivula, Florian Le Formal, Michael Grätzel
ChemSusChem 4 (4), 432-449, 2011
Photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells offer the ability to convert electromagnetic energy from our largest renewable source, the Sun, to stored chemical energy through the splitting of water into molecular oxygen and hydrogen. Hematite (α‐Fe2O3) has emerged as a promising photo‐electrode material due to its significant light absorption, chemical stability in aqueous environments, and ample abundance. However, its performance as a water‐oxidizing photoanode has been crucially limited by poor optoelectronic properties that lead to both low light harvesting efficiencies and a large requisite overpotential for photoassisted water oxidation. Recently, the application of nanostructuring techniques and advanced interfacial engineering has afforded landmark improvements in the performance of hematite photoanodes. In this review, new insights into the basic material properties, the attractive aspects, and the challenges in using hematite for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting are first examined.