Photoelectrochemical hydrogen production using nanostructured alpha-Fe2O3 electrodes

We report the methodology and fabrication of α-Fe2O 3 nanostructured photoelectrodes for water splitting applications. Thin films of α-Fe2O3 (hematite) were deposited onto nanostructured substrates (ZnO nanowires and TiO2 nanotubes) using filtered arc deposition (FAD). It is proposed that such nanostructured electrodes can overcome the poor absorption and high charge carrier recombination of planar α-Fe2O3 films used for water splitting. Results of the characterization and optimization of the α-Fe2O3 films and the nanostructured substrates are presented. The filtered arc deposition technique is shown to produce high purity α-Fe2O3 films. Results of preliminary studies of silicon doping of the hematite films are presented. The filtered arc deposition technique is shown to be suitable for coating highly structured substrates.