Interplay of thickness and photoelectrochemical properties in nanostructured α-Fe2 O3 thin films

physica status solidi (a)Volume 212, Issue 7 p. 1501-1507 Original Paper Interplay of thickness and photoelectrochemical properties in nanostructured α-Fe2O3 thin films Michael E. A. Warwick, Corresponding Author Michael E. A. Warwick Department of Chemistry, Padova University and INSTM, 35131 Padova, Italy Corresponding authors: e-mail [email protected], Phone: +39 049 8275168, Fax: +39 049 8275161 **e-mail [email protected], Phone: +39 049 8275168, Fax: +39 049 8275161Search for more papers by this authorGiorgio Carraro, Corresponding Author Giorgio Carraro Department of Chemistry, Padova University and INSTM, 35131 Padova, Italy Corresponding authors: e-mail [email protected], Phone: +39 049 8275168, Fax: +39 049 8275161 **e-mail [email protected], Phone: +39 049 8275168, Fax: +39 049 8275161Search for more papers by this authorAlberto Gasparotto, Alberto Gasparotto Department of Chemistry, Padova University and INSTM, 35131 Padova, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorChiara Maccato, Chiara Maccato Department of Chemistry, Padova University and INSTM, 35131 Padova, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorDavide Barreca, Davide Barreca CNR-IENI and INSTM, Department of Chemistry, Padova University, 35131 Padova, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorCinzia Sada, Cinzia Sada Department of Physics and Astronomy, Padova University, 35131 Padova, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorElza Bontempi, Elza Bontempi Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, Brescia University and INSTM, 25123 Brescia, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorYakup Gönüllü, Yakup Gönüllü Department of Chemistry, Chair of Inorganic and Materials Chemistry, Cologne University, 50939 Cologne, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorSanjay Mathur, Sanjay Mathur Department of Chemistry, Chair of Inorganic and Materials Chemistry, Cologne University, 50939 Cologne, GermanySearch for more papers by this author Michael E. A. Warwick, Corresponding Author Michael E. A. Warwick Department of Chemistry, Padova University and INSTM, 35131 Padova, Italy Corresponding authors: e-mail [email protected], Phone: +39 049 8275168, Fax: +39 049 8275161 **e-mail [email protected], Phone: +39 049 8275168, Fax: +39 049 8275161Search for more papers by this authorGiorgio Carraro, Corresponding Author Giorgio Carraro Department of Chemistry, Padova University and INSTM, 35131 Padova, Italy Corresponding authors: e-mail [email protected], Phone: +39 049 8275168, Fax: +39 049 8275161 **e-mail [email protected], Phone: +39 049 8275168, Fax: +39 049 8275161Search for more papers by this authorAlberto Gasparotto, Alberto Gasparotto Department of Chemistry, Padova University and INSTM, 35131 Padova, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorChiara Maccato, Chiara Maccato Department of Chemistry, Padova University and INSTM, 35131 Padova, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorDavide Barreca, Davide Barreca CNR-IENI and INSTM, Department of Chemistry, Padova University, 35131 Padova, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorCinzia Sada, Cinzia Sada Department of Physics and Astronomy, Padova University, 35131 Padova, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorElza Bontempi, Elza Bontempi Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, Brescia University and INSTM, 25123 Brescia, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorYakup Gönüllü, Yakup Gönüllü Department of Chemistry, Chair of Inorganic and Materials Chemistry, Cologne University, 50939 Cologne, GermanySearch for more papers by this authorSanjay Mathur, Sanjay Mathur Department of Chemistry, Chair of Inorganic and Materials Chemistry, Cologne University, 50939 Cologne, GermanySearch for more papers by this author First published: 11 June 2015 https://doi.org/10.1002/pssa.201532366Citations: 19Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract Nanostructured Fe2O3 thin films were grown by plasma enhanced-chemical vapor deposition (PE-CVD) from Ar/O2 plasmas for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting applications. Iron oxide coatings were deposited on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates at 300 °C under optimized conditions, and subsequently annealed ex situ in air at 650 °C. Structural and compositional analyses confirmed the formation of pure α-Fe2O3 (hematite), free from other crystalline iron oxide phases. Controlled variations of the deposition time enabled tuning of the thickness and nano-aggregate sizes in the resulting deposits and, correspondingly, their current–voltage characteristics. A maximum photocurrent density close to 1 mA cm−2 was achieved at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), without the need of any oxygen evolution catalyst or over/underlayer. 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