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Research Article | Open Access

Defect-rich spinel ferrites with improved charge collection properties for efficient solar water splitting

Runfa Tana,b, Yoo Jae Jeonga,b, Qu Lia,b, Minje Kanga,b, In Sun Choa,b( )
Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
Department of Energy Systems Research, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
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Graphical Abstract

Abstract

Spinel zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4, ZFO) is a potential photoanode material for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting because of its ideal bandgap (1.9–2.1 eV) and superior chemical stability in aqueous solutions. However, the low charge collection efficiency significantly hinders the improvement in PEC activity. Herein, we report an ultrafast and effective flame activation route to enhance the charge collection properties of ZFO. First, high-temperature flame (> 1300 ℃) facilitated surface and grain boundary diffusions, increasing the grain size and connectivity of the ZFO nanoparticles. Second, the reducing atmosphere of the flame enabled the formation of surface defects (oxygen vacancy and Fe2+), thereby increasing the charge carrier density and surface adsorption sites. Significantly, these two factors promoted charge transport and transfer kinetics, resulting in a 10-fold increase in the photocurrent density over the unactivated ZFO. Furthermore, we deposited a thin Al2O3 overlayer to passivate the ZFO surface and then the NiFeOx oxygen evolution catalyst (OEC) to expedite hole injection into the electrolyte. This surface passivation and OEC deposition led to a remarkable photocurrent density of ~1 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode, which is the highest value among all reported ZFO photoanodes. Notably, the NiFeOx/Al2O3/F-ZFO photoanode achieved excellent photocurrent stability over 55 h (96% retention) and superior faradaic efficiency (FE > 94%). Our flame activation method is also effective in improving the photocurrent densities of other spinel ferrites: CuFe2O4 (93 times), MgFe2O4 (16 times), and NiFe2O4 (12 times).

Keywords

water splittingspinel ferritesflame activationdefect-rich surfacecharge collectionphotoelectrochemical (PEC)

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Journal of Advanced Ceramics
Volume 12 Issue 3,
March 2023
Pages 612-624
DOI: 10.26599/JAC.2023.9220709
Cite this article:
Tan R, Jeong YJ, Li Q, et al. Defect-rich spinel ferrites with improved charge collection properties for efficient solar water splitting. Journal of Advanced Ceramics, 2023, 12(3): 612-624. https://doi.org/10.26599/JAC.2023.9220709

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Received: 19 September 2022
Accepted: 16 December 2022
Published: 16 February 2023
© The Author(s) 2022.

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