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Article

Optimizing Charge Separation and Transport: Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting in α-Fe2O3/CZTS Nanorod Arrays

by
Wen Chen
1,2,
Ao-Sheng She
1,2,
Ming-Hao Ji
2,
Hao-Yan Shi
2,
Yang Yang
2,3,
Yi-Hu Pu
4,
Rui Chen
1,2,
Wei-Hua Yang
4,
Yan-Xin Chen
1,2,5,6,* and
Can-Zhong Lu
1,2,5,6,*
1
College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, China
2
State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou 350002, China
3
College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350108, China
4
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China
5
Xiamen Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Photoelectric Functional Materials, Xiamen Institute of Rare-Earth Materials, Haixi Institutes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
6
Fujian Science and Technology Innovation Laboratory for Optoelectronic Information of China, Fuzhou 350108, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Catalysts 2024, 14(11), 812; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14110812
Submission received: 14 October 2024 / Revised: 4 November 2024 / Accepted: 6 November 2024 / Published: 11 November 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Photo/Electrocatalytic Water Splitting)
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Abstract

This study explores the enhancement of α-Fe2O3 (hematite) nanorod arrays for photoelec-trochemical applications by constructing a Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) heterojunction. While α-Fe2O3 offers good stability, a low cost, and environmental benefits, its efficiency is limited by slow oxygen evolution kinetics, high carrier recombination rates, and low conductivity. By introducing CZTS, a material with strong light absorption and charge transport properties, we enhance the separation of photogenerated charge carriers, reduce charge transfer resistance, and increase the carrier concentration, thereby boosting the overall photoelectrochemical performance. The experimental results show that a modified FC-15 photoanode achieves a photocurrent density of 3.40 mA/cm2 at 1.60 V vs. RHE, a substantial increase compared to 0.40 mA/cm2 for unmodified α-Fe2O3. Band gap analysis reveals a reduced band gap in the FC-15 material, enhancing light absorption and boosting the photoelectrocatalytic performance. In photoelectrochemical water-splitting tests, the FC-15 photoanode achieves a hydrogen production rate of 41.6 μmol/cm2/h, which is significantly improved over the unmodified sample at 5.64 μmol/cm2/h. These findings indicate that the CZTS/α-Fe2O3 heterojunction effectively promotes charge separation, enhances charge transport, and improves light absorption, substantially increasing photocatalytic efficiency. This heterojunction approach offers new insights and technical strategies for developing photocatalytic materials with potential applications in renewable energy.
Keywords: photoelectrochemical water splitting; α-Fe2O3/CZTS heterojunction; charge separation and transport; photoelectrocatalytic efficiency photoelectrochemical water splitting; α-Fe2O3/CZTS heterojunction; charge separation and transport; photoelectrocatalytic efficiency
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MDPI and ACS Style

Chen, W.; She, A.-S.; Ji, M.-H.; Shi, H.-Y.; Yang, Y.; Pu, Y.-H.; Chen, R.; Yang, W.-H.; Chen, Y.-X.; Lu, C.-Z. Optimizing Charge Separation and Transport: Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting in α-Fe2O3/CZTS Nanorod Arrays. Catalysts 2024, 14, 812. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14110812

AMA Style

Chen W, She A-S, Ji M-H, Shi H-Y, Yang Y, Pu Y-H, Chen R, Yang W-H, Chen Y-X, Lu C-Z. Optimizing Charge Separation and Transport: Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting in α-Fe2O3/CZTS Nanorod Arrays. Catalysts. 2024; 14(11):812. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14110812

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chen, Wen, Ao-Sheng She, Ming-Hao Ji, Hao-Yan Shi, Yang Yang, Yi-Hu Pu, Rui Chen, Wei-Hua Yang, Yan-Xin Chen, and Can-Zhong Lu. 2024. "Optimizing Charge Separation and Transport: Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting in α-Fe2O3/CZTS Nanorod Arrays" Catalysts 14, no. 11: 812. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14110812

APA Style

Chen, W., She, A.-S., Ji, M.-H., Shi, H.-Y., Yang, Y., Pu, Y.-H., Chen, R., Yang, W.-H., Chen, Y.-X., & Lu, C.-Z. (2024). Optimizing Charge Separation and Transport: Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting in α-Fe2O3/CZTS Nanorod Arrays. Catalysts, 14(11), 812. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14110812

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