The Influence of Oxygen Content on the Thermal Activation of Hematite Nanowires

Live wire: Thermal decomposition of β-FeOOH nanowires at 550 °C in an oxygen-deficient atmosphere generates highly photoactive hematite nanowires (N-hematite), which yielded a substantially enhanced photocurrent density, as compared to a hematite sample prepared in air (A-hematite). This enhanced photoactivity is attributed to the improved donor density of hematite nanowires, as a result of formation of oxygen vacancies.