Modification of Hematite Electronic Properties with Trimethyl Aluminum to Enhance the Efficiency of Photoelectrodes

  • The electronic properties of hematite were investigated by means of synchrotron radiation photoemission (SR-PES) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Hematite samples were exposed to trimethyl aluminum (TMA) pulses, a widely used Al-precursor for the atomic layer deposition (ALD) of Al2O3. SR-PES and XAS showed that the electronic properties of hematite were modified by the interaction with TMA. In particular, the hybridization of O 2p states with Fe 3d and Fe 4s4p changed upon TMA pulses due to electron inclusion as polarons. The change of hybridization correlates with an enhancement of the photocurrent density due to water oxidation for the hematite electrodes. Such an enhancement has been associated with an improvement in charge carrier transport. Our findings open new perspectives for the understanding and utilization of electrode modifications by very thin ALD films and show that the interactions between metal precursors and substrates seem to be important factors in defining their electronic and photoelectrocatalyticThe electronic properties of hematite were investigated by means of synchrotron radiation photoemission (SR-PES) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Hematite samples were exposed to trimethyl aluminum (TMA) pulses, a widely used Al-precursor for the atomic layer deposition (ALD) of Al2O3. SR-PES and XAS showed that the electronic properties of hematite were modified by the interaction with TMA. In particular, the hybridization of O 2p states with Fe 3d and Fe 4s4p changed upon TMA pulses due to electron inclusion as polarons. The change of hybridization correlates with an enhancement of the photocurrent density due to water oxidation for the hematite electrodes. Such an enhancement has been associated with an improvement in charge carrier transport. Our findings open new perspectives for the understanding and utilization of electrode modifications by very thin ALD films and show that the interactions between metal precursors and substrates seem to be important factors in defining their electronic and photoelectrocatalytic properties.show moreshow less

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Author: Massimo TallaridaORCiD, Chittaranjan DasORCiD, Dejan Cibrev, Kaupo Kukli, Aile Tamm, Mikko Ritala, Teresa Lana-Villarreal, Roberto Gómez, Markku Leskelä, Dieter SchmeißerORCiD
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/jz501751w
Title of the source (English):The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
Document Type:Scientific journal article peer-reviewed
Language:English
Year of publication:2014
Tag:Atomic Layer deposition; Hematite; Photoelectrode; TMA; efficiency enhancement; electro-catalysis
Volume/Year:5
Issue number:20
First Page:3582
Last Page:3587
Faculty/Chair:Fakultät 1 MINT - Mathematik, Informatik, Physik, Elektro- und Informationstechnik / FG Angewandte Physik und Halbleiterspektroskopie
Institution name at the time of publication:Fakultät für Mathematik, Naturwissenschaften und Informatik (eBTU) / LS Angewandte Physik / Sensorik
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