1
|
Seriani N, Delcompare-Rodriguez P, Pandey D, Adak AK, Mahamiya V, Pinilla C, El-Khozondar HJ. Quantitative Analysis of the Synergy of Doping and Nanostructuring of Oxide Photocatalysts. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 17:3460. [PMID: 39063753 PMCID: PMC11278242 DOI: 10.3390/ma17143460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
In this paper, the effect of doping and nanostructuring on the electrostatic potential across the electrochemical interface between a transition metal oxide and a water electrolyte is investigated by means of the Poisson-Boltzmann model. For spherical nanoparticles and nanorods, compact expressions for the limiting potentials at which the space charge layer includes the whole semiconductor are reported. We provide a quantitative analysis of the distribution of the potential drop between the solid and the liquid and show that the relative importance changes with doping. It is usually assumed that high doping improves charge dynamics in the semiconductor but reduces the width of the space charge layer. However, nanostructuring counterbalances the latter negative effect; we show quantitatively that in highly doped nanoparticles the space charge layer can occupy a similar volume fraction as in low-doped microparticles. Moreover, as shown by some recent experiments, under conditions of high doping the electric fields in the Helmholtz layer can be as high as 100 mV/Å, comparable to electric fields inducing freezing in water. This work provides a systematic quantitative framework for understanding the effects of doping and nanostructuring on electrochemical interfaces, and suggests that it is necessary to better characterize the interface at the atomistic level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Seriani
- The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, 34151 Trieste, Italy (A.K.A.)
| | - Paola Delcompare-Rodriguez
- Istituto Officina dei Materiali, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR-IOM), Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Dhanshree Pandey
- The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, 34151 Trieste, Italy (A.K.A.)
| | - Abhishek Kumar Adak
- The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, 34151 Trieste, Italy (A.K.A.)
| | - Vikram Mahamiya
- The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, 34151 Trieste, Italy (A.K.A.)
| | - Carlos Pinilla
- Departamento de Fisica y Geociencias, Universidad del Norte, Km 5, Via Puerto Colombia, Barranquilla 080020, Colombia
| | - Hala J. El-Khozondar
- Electrical Engineering and Smart Systems Department, Faculty of Engineering, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza P.O. Box 108, Palestine
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Marchini E, Caramori S, Carli S. Metal Complexes for Dye-Sensitized Photoelectrochemical Cells (DSPECs). Molecules 2024; 29:293. [PMID: 38257206 PMCID: PMC10818894 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29020293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Since Mallouk's earliest contribution, dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells (DSPECs) have emerged as a promising class of photoelectrochemical devices capable of storing solar light into chemical bonds. This review primarily focuses on metal complexes outlining stabilization strategies and applications. The ubiquity and safety of water have made its splitting an extensively studied reaction; here, we present some examples from the outset to recent advancements. Additionally, alternative oxidative pathways like HX splitting and organic reactions mediated by a redox shuttle are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Marchini
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
| | - Stefano Caramori
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
| | - Stefano Carli
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Fernandez-Izquierdo L, Spera EL, Durán B, Marotti RE, Dalchiele EA, del Rio R, Hevia SA. CVD Growth of Hematite Thin Films for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: Effect of Precursor-Substrate Distance on Their Final Properties. Molecules 2023; 28:1954. [PMID: 36838942 PMCID: PMC9967862 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28041954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of photoelectrode materials for efficient water splitting using solar energy is a crucial research topic for green hydrogen production. These materials need to be abundant, fabricated on a large scale, and at low cost. In this context, hematite is a promising material that has been widely studied. However, it is a huge challenge to achieve high-efficiency performance as a photoelectrode in water splitting. This paper reports a study of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of hematite nanocrystalline thin films on fluorine-doped tin oxide as a photoanode for photoelectrochemical water splitting, with a particular focus on the effect of the precursor-substrate distance in the CVD system. A full morphological, structural, and optical characterization of hematite nanocrystalline thin films was performed, revealing that no change occurred in the structure of the films as a function of the previously mentioned distance. However, it was found that the thickness of the hematite film, which is a critical parameter in the photoelectrochemical performance, linearly depends on the precursor-substrate distance; however, the electrochemical response exhibits a nonmonotonic behavior. A maximum photocurrent value close to 2.5 mA/cm2 was obtained for a film with a thickness of around 220 nm under solar irradiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leunam Fernandez-Izquierdo
- Centro de Investigación en Nanotecnología y Materiales Avanzados (CIEN-UC), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 306, Santiago 6904411, Chile
- Facultad de Química y de Farmacia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 306, Santiago 6904411, Chile
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, 2601 North Floyd Road RL10, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Enzo Luigi Spera
- Instituto de Física, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de la República, Julio Herrera y Reissig 565, C.C. 30, Montevideo 11000, Uruguay
| | - Boris Durán
- Departamento de Medicina Traslacional, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3480112, Chile
| | - Ricardo Enrique Marotti
- Instituto de Física, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de la República, Julio Herrera y Reissig 565, C.C. 30, Montevideo 11000, Uruguay
| | - Enrique Ariel Dalchiele
- Instituto de Física, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de la República, Julio Herrera y Reissig 565, C.C. 30, Montevideo 11000, Uruguay
| | - Rodrigo del Rio
- Centro de Investigación en Nanotecnología y Materiales Avanzados (CIEN-UC), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 306, Santiago 6904411, Chile
- Facultad de Química y de Farmacia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 306, Santiago 6904411, Chile
| | - Samuel A. Hevia
- Centro de Investigación en Nanotecnología y Materiales Avanzados (CIEN-UC), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 306, Santiago 6904411, Chile
- Instituto de Física, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 306, Santiago 6904411, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Betova I, Bojinov M, Karastoyanov V. Anodic oxide films on stainless steel as prospective photo-anodes for light-assisted electrochemical water splitting. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2022.113953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|