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Potent and environmental-friendly l-cysteine @ Fe2O3 nanostructure for photoelectrochemical water splitting

By Qiu, Ping; Yang, Hongfei; Song, Yu; Yang, Lianjie; Lv, Lijun; Zhao, Xiong; Ge, Lei; Chen, Changfeng
Published in Electrochimica Acta 2018

Abstract

This work has reported a simple, environmental-friendly, low-cost and relatively high efficient method of L-cys @ Fe2O3 {NTs} photoanode preparation. The designed specimen was composed of hematite nanotubes obtained by electrochemical anodization on mild steel, which surface was covered by l-cysteine thin layer. With the overlayer, the water oxidation photocurrent of hematite increased approximately sixfold (1.23 V vs {RHE} (reversible hydrogen electrode) under 1 sun illumination). To reveal the enhanced {PEC} performance, multiple analyses including the sample surface morphological and chemical properties, optical and electronic properties, and photoelectrochemical properties were explored. The combined results suggested that L-cys @ Fe2O3 {NTs} photoanode presented more efficient hole migration pathway, lower interfacial resistance, and superior surface stability than pure nanostructured hematite.

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