Depositing a cocatalyst has proven to be an important strategy for improving the photoelectrochemical(PEC)water-splitting efficiency of photoanodes.In this study,Ni(OH)2 quantum dots(Ni(OH)2 QDs)were deposited in situ...Depositing a cocatalyst has proven to be an important strategy for improving the photoelectrochemical(PEC)water-splitting efficiency of photoanodes.In this study,Ni(OH)2 quantum dots(Ni(OH)2 QDs)were deposited in situ onto anα-Fe_(2)O_(3)photoanode via a chelation-mediated hydrolysis method.The photocurrent density of the Ni(OH)2 QDs/α-Fe_(2)O_(3)photoanode reached 1.93 mA·cm^(−2)at 1.23 V vs.RHE,which is 3.5 times that ofα-Fe_(2)O_(3),and an onset potential with a negative shift of ca.100 mV was achieved.More importantly,the Ni(OH)2 QDs exhibited excellent stability in maintaining PEC water oxidation at a high current density,which is attributed to the ultra-small crystalline size,allowing for the rapid acceptance of holes fromα-Fe_(2)O_(3)to Ni(OH)_(2)QDs,formation of active sites for water oxidation,and hole transfer from the active sites to water molecules.Further(photo)electrochemical analysis suggests that Ni(OH)_(2)QDs not only provide maximal active sites for water oxidation but also suppress charge recombination by passivating the surface states ofα-Fe_(2)O_(3),thereby significantly enhancing the water oxidation kinetics over theα-Fe_(2)O_(3)surface.展开更多
文摘Depositing a cocatalyst has proven to be an important strategy for improving the photoelectrochemical(PEC)water-splitting efficiency of photoanodes.In this study,Ni(OH)2 quantum dots(Ni(OH)2 QDs)were deposited in situ onto anα-Fe_(2)O_(3)photoanode via a chelation-mediated hydrolysis method.The photocurrent density of the Ni(OH)2 QDs/α-Fe_(2)O_(3)photoanode reached 1.93 mA·cm^(−2)at 1.23 V vs.RHE,which is 3.5 times that ofα-Fe_(2)O_(3),and an onset potential with a negative shift of ca.100 mV was achieved.More importantly,the Ni(OH)2 QDs exhibited excellent stability in maintaining PEC water oxidation at a high current density,which is attributed to the ultra-small crystalline size,allowing for the rapid acceptance of holes fromα-Fe_(2)O_(3)to Ni(OH)_(2)QDs,formation of active sites for water oxidation,and hole transfer from the active sites to water molecules.Further(photo)electrochemical analysis suggests that Ni(OH)_(2)QDs not only provide maximal active sites for water oxidation but also suppress charge recombination by passivating the surface states ofα-Fe_(2)O_(3),thereby significantly enhancing the water oxidation kinetics over theα-Fe_(2)O_(3)surface.
