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Author Barreca, D.; Carraro, G.; Gasparotto, A.; Maccato, C.; Warwick, M.E.A.; Kaunisto, K.; Sada, C.; Turner, S.; Gönüllü, Y.; Ruoko, T.-P.; Borgese, L.; Bontempi, E.; Van Tendeloo, G.; Lemmetyinen, H.; Mathur, S.
Title Fe2O3-TiO2Nano-heterostructure Photoanodes for Highly Efficient Solar Water Oxidation Type A1 Journal article
Year 2015 Publication Advanced Materials Interfaces Abbreviated Journal Adv Mater Interfaces
Volume 2 Issue 2 Pages (up) 1500313
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Harnessing solar energy for the production of clean hydrogen by photo­electrochemical water splitting represents a very attractive, but challenging approach for sustainable energy generation. In this regard, the fabrication of Fe2O3–TiO2 photoanodes is reported, showing attractive performances [≈2.0 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode in 1 M NaOH] under simulated one-sun illumination. This goal, corresponding to a tenfold photoactivity enhancement with respect to bare Fe2O3, is achieved by atomic layer deposition of TiO2 over hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanostructures fabricated by plasma enhanced-chemical vapor deposition and final annealing at 650 °C. The adopted approach enables an intimate Fe2O3–TiO2 coupling, resulting in an electronic interplay at the Fe2O3/TiO2 interface. The reasons for the photocurrent enhancement determined by TiO2 overlayers with increasing thickness are unraveled by a detailed chemico-physical investigation, as well as by the study of photo­generated charge carrier dynamics. Transient absorption spectroscopy shows that the increased photoelectrochemical response of heterostructured photoanodes compared to bare hematite is due to an enhanced separation of photogenerated charge carriers and more favorable hole dynamics for water oxidation. The stable responses obtained even in simulated seawater provides a feasible route in view of the eventual large-scale generation of renewable energy.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000368914700011 Publication Date 2015-09-03
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2196-7350; ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.279 Times cited 56 Open Access
Notes The authors kindly acknowledge the fi nancial support under the FP7 project “SOLAROGENIX” (NMP4-SL-2012-310333), as well as Padova University ex-60% 2012–2014 projects, Grant No. CPDR132937/13 (SOLLEONE), and Regione Lombardia-INSTM ATLANTE projects. S.T. acknowledges the FWO Flanders for a postdoctoral scholarship. Approved Most recent IF: 4.279; 2015 IF: NA
Call Number c:irua:129201 Serial 3957
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Author Barreca, D.; Carraro, G.; Gasparotto, A.; Maccato, C.; Warwick, M.E.A.; Toniato, E.; Gombac, V.; Sada, C.; Turner, S.; Van Tendeloo, G.; Fornasiero, P.;
Title Iron-titanium oxide nanocomposites functionalized with gold particles : from design to solar hydrogen production Type A1 Journal article
Year 2016 Publication Advanced Materials Interfaces Abbreviated Journal Adv Mater Interfaces
Volume 3 Issue 3 Pages (up) 1600348
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Hematite-titania nanocomposites, eventually functionalized with gold nanoparticles (NPs), are designed and developed by a plasma-assisted strategy, consisting in: (i) the plasma enhanced-chemical vapor deposition of -Fe2O3 on fluorine-doped tin oxide substrates; the radio frequency-sputtering of (ii) TiO2, and (iii) Au in controlled amounts. A detailed chemicophysical characterization, carried out through a multitechnique approach, reveals that the target materials are composed by interwoven -Fe2O3 dendritic structures, possessing a high porosity and active area. TiO2 introduction results in the formation of an ultrathin titania layer uniformly covering Fe2O3, whereas Au sputtering yields a homogeneous dispersion of low-sized gold NPs. Due to the intimate and tailored interaction between the single constituents and their optical properties, the resulting composite materials are successfully exploited for solar-driven applications. In particular, promising photocatalytic performances in H-2 production by reforming of water-ethanol solutions under simulated solar illumination are obtained. The related insights, presented and discussed in this work, can yield useful guidelines to boost the performances of nanostructured photocatalysts for energy-related applications.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000383783200021 Publication Date 2016-07-20
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2196-7350; ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.279 Times cited 15 Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.279
Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:137154 Serial 4389
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