Journal Home > Volume 12 , Issue 3
Journal of Advanced Ceramics 2023, 12(3): 612-624 https://doi.org/10.26599/JAC.2023.9220709
Research Article | Open Access | Issue | Published: 16 February 2023

Defect-rich spinel ferrites with improved charge collection properties for efficient solar water splitting

Show Author's Information Runfa Tana,b,  Yoo Jae Jeonga,b,  Qu Lia,b,  Minje Kanga,b,  In Sun Choa,b( )
Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
Department of Energy Systems Research, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
Keywords:
water splitting, spinel ferrites, flame activation, defect-rich surface, charge collection, photoelectrochemical (PEC)
Cite this article:
Tan R, Jeong YJ, Li Q, et al. Defect-rich spinel ferrites with improved charge collection properties for efficient solar water splitting. Journal of Advanced Ceramics, 2023, 12(3): 612-624. https://doi.org/10.26599/JAC.2023.9220709
Download citation
EndNote(RIS)
BibTeX

2216

Views

500

Downloads

Citations

9

Crossref

6

WoS

4

Scopus

0

CSCD

Abstract Full text Electronic supplementary material About this article

Spinel zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4, ZFO) is a potential photoanode material for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting because of its ideal bandgap (1.9–2.1 eV) and superior chemical stability in aqueous solutions. However, the low charge collection efficiency significantly hinders the improvement in PEC activity. Herein, we report an ultrafast and effective flame activation route to enhance the charge collection properties of ZFO. First, high-temperature flame (> 1300 ℃) facilitated surface and grain boundary diffusions, increasing the grain size and connectivity of the ZFO nanoparticles. Second, the reducing atmosphere of the flame enabled the formation of surface defects (oxygen vacancy and Fe2+), thereby increasing the charge carrier density and surface adsorption sites. Significantly, these two factors promoted charge transport and transfer kinetics, resulting in a 10-fold increase in the photocurrent density over the unactivated ZFO. Furthermore, we deposited a thin Al2O3 overlayer to passivate the ZFO surface and then the NiFeOx oxygen evolution catalyst (OEC) to expedite hole injection into the electrolyte. This surface passivation and OEC deposition led to a remarkable photocurrent density of ~1 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode, which is the highest value among all reported ZFO photoanodes. Notably, the NiFeOx/Al2O3/F-ZFO photoanode achieved excellent photocurrent stability over 55 h (96% retention) and superior faradaic efficiency (FE > 94%). Our flame activation method is also effective in improving the photocurrent densities of other spinel ferrites: CuFe2O4 (93 times), MgFe2O4 (16 times), and NiFe2O4 (12 times).


menu
Abstract
Full text
Outline
Electronic supplementary material
About this article

Defect-rich spinel ferrites with improved charge collection properties for efficient solar water splitting

Show Author's information Runfa Tana,b, Yoo Jae Jeonga,b, Qu Lia,b, Minje Kanga,b, In Sun Choa,b( )
Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
Department of Energy Systems Research, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea

Abstract

Spinel zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4, ZFO) is a potential photoanode material for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting because of its ideal bandgap (1.9–2.1 eV) and superior chemical stability in aqueous solutions. However, the low charge collection efficiency significantly hinders the improvement in PEC activity. Herein, we report an ultrafast and effective flame activation route to enhance the charge collection properties of ZFO. First, high-temperature flame (> 1300 ℃) facilitated surface and grain boundary diffusions, increasing the grain size and connectivity of the ZFO nanoparticles. Second, the reducing atmosphere of the flame enabled the formation of surface defects (oxygen vacancy and Fe2+), thereby increasing the charge carrier density and surface adsorption sites. Significantly, these two factors promoted charge transport and transfer kinetics, resulting in a 10-fold increase in the photocurrent density over the unactivated ZFO. Furthermore, we deposited a thin Al2O3 overlayer to passivate the ZFO surface and then the NiFeOx oxygen evolution catalyst (OEC) to expedite hole injection into the electrolyte. This surface passivation and OEC deposition led to a remarkable photocurrent density of ~1 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode, which is the highest value among all reported ZFO photoanodes. Notably, the NiFeOx/Al2O3/F-ZFO photoanode achieved excellent photocurrent stability over 55 h (96% retention) and superior faradaic efficiency (FE > 94%). Our flame activation method is also effective in improving the photocurrent densities of other spinel ferrites: CuFe2O4 (93 times), MgFe2O4 (16 times), and NiFe2O4 (12 times).

Keywords: water splitting, spinel ferrites, flame activation, defect-rich surface, charge collection, photoelectrochemical (PEC)

References(62)

[1]
Chen ZB, Dinh HN, Miller E. Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting. New York: Springer New York, 2013.
DOI
[2]
Yang Y, Niu SW, Han DD, et al. Progress in developing metal oxide nanomaterials for photoelectrochemical water splitting. Adv Energy Mater 2017, 7: 1700555.
DOI Google Scholar
[3]
Jiang CR, Moniz SJA, Wang AQ, et al. Photoelectrochemical devices for solar water splitting-materials and challenges. Chem Soc Rev 2017, 46: 4645–4660.
DOI Google Scholar
[4]
Alfaifi BY, Ullah H, Alfaifi S, et al. Photoelectrochemical solar water splitting: From basic principles to advanced devices. Veruscript Funct Nanomater 2018, 2: BDJOC3.
DOI Google Scholar
[5]
He YM, Hamann T, Wang DW. Thin film photoelectrodes for solar water splitting. Chem Soc Rev 2019, 48: 2182–2215.
DOI Google Scholar
[6]
Fountaine KT, Lewerenz HJ, Atwater HA. Efficiency limits for photoelectrochemical water-splitting. Nat Commun 2016, 7: 13706.
DOI Google Scholar
[7]
Ge M, Li Q, Cao C, et al. One-dimensional TiO2 nanotube photocatalysts for solar water splitting. Adv Sci: Weinh 2017, 4: 1600152.
DOI Google Scholar
[8]
Cho IS, Chen ZB, Forman AJ, et al. Branched TiO2 nanorods for photoelectrochemical hydrogen production. Nano Lett 2011, 11: 4978–4984.
DOI Google Scholar
[9]
Ma M, Zhang K, Li P, et al. Dual oxygen and tungsten vacancies on a WO3 photoanode for enhanced water oxidation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2016, 55: 11819–11823.
DOI Google Scholar
[10]
Wang YD, Tian W, Chen C, et al. Tungsten trioxide nanostructures for photoelectrochemical water splitting: Material engineering and charge carrier dynamic manipulation. Adv Funct Mater 2019, 29: 1809036.
DOI Google Scholar
[11]
McDonald KJ, Choi KS. A new electrochemical synthesis route for a BiOI electrode and its conversion to a highly efficient porous BiVO4 photoanode for solar water oxidation. Energy Environ Sci 2012, 5: 8553–8557.
DOI Google Scholar
[12]
Kim TW, Choi KS. Nanoporous BiVO4 photoanodes with dual-layer oxygen evolution catalysts for solar water splitting. Science 2014, 343: 990–994.
DOI Google Scholar
[13]
Han HS, Shin S, Kim DH, et al. Boosting the solar water oxidation performance of a BiVO4 photoanode by crystallographic orientation control. Energy Environ Sci 2018, 11: 1299–1306.
DOI Google Scholar
[14]
Lin YJ, Yuan GB, Sheehan S, et al. Hematite-based solar water splitting: Challenges and opportunities. Energy Environ Sci 2011, 4: 4862–4869.
DOI Google Scholar
[15]
Cho IS, Han HS, Logar M, et al. Solar water splitting: Enhancing low-bias performance of hematite photoanodes for solar water splitting by simultaneous reduction of bulk, interface, and surface recombination pathways. Adv Energy Mater 2016, 6: 1501840.
DOI Google Scholar
[16]
Zhang HM, Li DF, Byun WJ, et al. Gradient tantalum-doped hematite homojunction photoanode improves both photocurrents and turn-on voltage for solar water splitting. Nat Commun 2020, 11: 4622.
DOI Google Scholar
[17]
Liu J, Zeng M, Yu RH. Surfactant-free synthesis of octahedral ZnO/ZnFe2O4 heterostructure with ultrahigh and selective adsorption capacity of malachite green. Sci Rep 2016, 6: 25074.
DOI Google Scholar
[18]
Taffa DH, Dillert R, Ulpe AC, et al. Photoelectrochemical and theoretical investigations of spinel type ferrites (MxFe3–xO4) for water splitting: A mini-review. J Photon Energy 2017, 7: 012009.
DOI Google Scholar
[19]
Chandrasekaran S, Bowen C, Zhang PX, et al. Spinel photocatalysts for environmental remediation, hydrogen generation, CO2 reduction and photoelectrochemical water splitting. J Mater Chem A 2018, 6: 11078–11104.
DOI Google Scholar
[20]
Zhu XD, Guijarro N, Liu YP, et al. Spinel structural disorder influences solar-water-splitting performance of ZnFe2 O4 nanorod photoanodes. Adv Mater 2018, 30: 1801612.
DOI Google Scholar
[21]
Kim ES, Nishimura N, Magesh G, et al. Fabrication of CaFe2O4/TaON heterojunction photoanode for photo-electrochemical water oxidation. J Am Chem Soc 2013, 135: 5375–5383.
DOI Google Scholar
[22]
Ida S, Yamada K, Matsunaga T, et al. Preparation of p-type CaFe2O4 photocathodes for producing hydrogen from water. J Am Chem Soc 2010, 132: 17343–17345.
DOI Google Scholar
[23]
Henning RA, Uredat P, Simon C, et al. Characterization of MFe2O4 (M = Mg, Zn) thin films prepared by pulsed laser deposition for photoelectrochemical applications. J Phys Chem C 2019, 123: 18240–18247.
DOI Google Scholar
[24]
Guijarro N, Bornoz P, Prévot M, et al. Evaluating spinel ferrites MFe2O4 (M = Cu, Mg, Zn) as photoanodes for solar water oxidation: Prospects and limitations. Sustainable Energy Fuels 2018, 2: 103–117.
DOI Google Scholar
[25]
Park S, Baek JH, Zhang L, et al. Rapid flame-annealed CuFe2O4 as efficient photocathode for photoelectrochemical hydrogen production. ACS Sustainable Chem Eng 2019, 7: 5867–5874.
DOI Google Scholar
[26]
Maitra S, Pal S, Maitra T, et al. Solvothermal etching-assisted phase and morphology tailoring in highly porous CuFe2O4 nanoflake photocathodes for solar water splitting. Energy Fuels 2021, 35: 14087–14100.
DOI Google Scholar
[27]
Doiphode V, Vairale P, Sharma V, et al. Solution-processed electrochemical synthesis of ZnFe2O4 photoanode for photoelectrochemical water splitting. J Solid State Electrochem 2021, 25: 1835–1846.
DOI Google Scholar
[28]
Park JW, Mahadik MA, An GW, et al. Activation of a highly oriented columnar structure of ZnFe2O4 for photoelectrochemical water splitting: Orchestrated effects of two-step quenching and Sn4+ diffusion. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 2018, 187: 207–218.
DOI Google Scholar
[29]
Hufnagel AG, Peters K, Müller A, et al. Zinc ferrite photoanode nanomorphologies with favorable kinetics for water-splitting. Adv Funct Mater 2016, 26: 4435–4443.
DOI Google Scholar
[30]
Liu YP, Xia M, Yao L, et al. Spectroelectrochemical and chemical evidence of surface passivation at zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) photoanodes for solar water oxidation. Adv Funct Mater 2021, 31: 2010081.
DOI Google Scholar
[31]
Polo A, Lhermitte CR, Dozzi MV, et al. Hydrogenation of ZnFe2O4 flat films: Effects of the pre-annealing temperature on the photoanodes efficiency for water oxidation. Surfaces 2020, 3: 93–104.
DOI Google Scholar
[32]
Kim JH, Kim JH, Jang JW, et al. Awakening solar water-splitting activity of ZnFe2O4 nanorods by hybrid microwave annealing. Adv Energy Mater 2015, 5: 1401933.
DOI Google Scholar
[33]
Anushkkaran P, Mahadik MA, Hwang JB, et al. Synchronized effect of in-situ Ti doping and microwave-assisted SiOx hole transport channel on ZnFe2O4 nanocoral arrays for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting. Appl Surf Sci 2022, 592: 153212.
DOI Google Scholar
[34]
Guo YS, Zhang NS, Wang X, et al. A facile spray pyrolysis method to prepare Ti-doped ZnFe2O4 for boosting photoelectrochemical water splitting. J Mater Chem A 2017, 5: 7571–7577.
DOI Google Scholar
[35]
Kim JH, Jang YJ, Choi SH, et al. A multitude of modifications strategy of ZnFe2O4 nanorod photoanodes for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting activity. J Mater Chem A 2018, 6: 12693–12700.
DOI Google Scholar
[36]
Kim JH, Choi IY, Kim JH, et al. ZnFe2O4 dendrite/SnO2 helix 3D hetero-structure photoanodes for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting: Triple functions of SnO2 nanohelix. Small 2021, 17: 2103861.
DOI Google Scholar
[37]
Polo A, Boudoire F, Lhermitte CR, et al. Key factors boosting the performance of planar ZnFe2O4 photoanodes for solar water oxidation. J Mater Chem A 2021, 9: 27736–27747.
DOI Google Scholar
[38]
Chen BY, Li D, Chen X, et al. Efficient and controllable flame method to generate rich oxygen vacancies in WO3 nanosheet arrays to enhance solar water oxidation. Appl Phys Lett 2022, 120: 253901.
DOI Google Scholar
[39]
Shao CY, Malik AS, Han JF, et al. Oxygen vacancy engineering with flame heating approach towards enhanced photoelectrochemical water oxidation on WO3 photoanode. Nano Energy 2020, 77: 105190.
DOI Google Scholar
[40]
Chen BY, Li D, Yang ZD, et al. Ultra-efficient post-treatment flame method to introduce abundant oxygen vacancies in BiVO4 photoanode toward solar water splitting. Chem Eng Sci 2022, 251: 117433.
DOI Google Scholar
[41]
Cho IS, Lee CH, Feng YZ, et al. Codoping titanium dioxide nanowires with tungsten and carbon for enhanced photoelectrochemical performance. Nat Commun 2013, 4: 1723.
DOI Google Scholar
[42]
Cho IS, Logar M, Lee CH, et al. Rapid and controllable flame reduction of TiO2 nanowires for enhanced solar water-splitting. Nano Lett 2014, 14: 24–31.
DOI Google Scholar
[43]
Kuang YB, Jia QX, Ma GJ, et al. Ultrastable low-bias water splitting photoanodes via photocorrosion inhibition and in situ catalyst regeneration. Nat Energy 2017, 2: 16191.
DOI Google Scholar
[44]
Kim S, Mahadik MA, Chae WS, et al. Synthesis of transparent Zr-doped ZnFe2O4 nanocorals photoanode and its surface modification via Al2O3/Co–Pi for efficient solar water splitting. Appl Surf Sci 2020, 513: 145528.
DOI Google Scholar
[45]
Hu JF, Wang XH, Zhang JZ, et al. A general mechanism of grain growth -Ⅰ. Theory. J Materiomics 2021, 7: 1007–1013.
DOI Google Scholar
[46]
Hu JF, Zhang JZ, Wang XH, et al. A general mechanism of grain growth-II: Experimental. J Materiomics 2021, 7: 1014–1021.
DOI Google Scholar
[47]
Lemine OM, Bououdina M, Sajieddine M, et al. Synthesis, structural, magnetic and optical properties of nanocrystalline ZnFe2O4. Phys B Condens Matter 2011, 406: 1989–1994.
DOI Google Scholar
[48]
Badreldin A, Abusrafa AE, Abdel-Wahab A. Oxygen-deficient cobalt-based oxides for electrocatalytic water splitting. ChemSusChem 2021, 14: 10–32.
DOI Google Scholar
[49]
Jain S, Shah J, Negi NS, et al. Significance of interface barrier at electrode of hematite hydroelectric cell for generating ecopower by water splitting. Int J Energy Res 2019, 43: 4743–4755.
DOI Google Scholar
[50]
Chawla A, Singh A, Babu PD, et al. Magnetic ion oxidation state dependent magnetoelectric coupling strength in Fe doped BCT ceramics. RSC Adv 2020, 10: 21019–21027.
DOI Google Scholar
[51]
Kim JH, Jang YJ, Kim JH, et al. Defective ZnFe2O4 nanorods with oxygen vacancy for photoelectrochemical water splitting. Nanoscale 2015, 7: 19144–19151.
DOI Google Scholar
[52]
Polarz S, Strunk J, Ischenko V, et al. On the role of oxygen defects in the catalytic performance of zinc oxide. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2006, 45: 2965–2969.
DOI Google Scholar
[53]
Zhang ZJ, Nagashima H, Tachikawa T. Ultra-narrow depletion layers in a hematite mesocrystal-based photoanode for boosting multihole water oxidation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020, 59: 9047–9054.
DOI Google Scholar
[54]
Corby S, Francàs L, Selim S, et al. Water oxidation and electron extraction kinetics in nanostructured tungsten trioxide photoanodes. J Am Chem Soc 2018, 140: 16168–16177.
DOI Google Scholar
[55]
Annamalai A, Subramanian A, Kang U, et al. Activation of hematite photoanodes for solar water splitting: Effect of FTO deformation. J Phys Chem C 2015, 119: 3810–3817.
DOI Google Scholar
[56]
Li YZ, Li Y, Xu XM, et al. Structural disorder controlled oxygen vacancy and photocatalytic activity of spinel-type minerals: A case study of ZnFe2O4. Chem Geol 2019, 504: 276–287.
DOI Google Scholar
[57]
Granone LI, Ulpe AC, Robben L, et al. Effect of the degree of inversion on optical properties of spinel ZnFe2O4. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018, 20: 28267–28278.
DOI Google Scholar
[58]
Wang ZL, Wang LZ. Role of oxygen vacancy in metal oxide based photoelectrochemical water splitting. EcoMat 2021, 3: e12075.
DOI Google Scholar
[59]
Hu J, Zhao X, Chen W, et al. Enhanced charge transport and increased active sites on α-Fe2O3 (110) nanorod surface containing oxygen vacancies for improved solar water oxidation performance. ACS Omega 2018, 3: 14973–14980.
DOI Google Scholar
[60]
Kwon HC, Yang W, Lee D, et al. Investigating recombination and charge carrier dynamics in a one-dimensional nanopillared perovskite absorber. ACS Nano 2018, 12: 4233–4245.
DOI Google Scholar
[61]
Jing LQ, Qu YC, Wang BQ, et al. Review of photoluminescence performance of nano-sized semiconductor materials and its relationships with photocatalytic activity. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 2006, 90: 1773–1787.
DOI Google Scholar
[62]
Soto-Arreola A, Huerta-Flores AM, Mora-Hernández JM, et al. Comparative study of the photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution of MFe2O4 (M = Cu, Ni) prepared by three different methods. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 2018, 357: 20–29.
DOI Google Scholar
File
JAC0709_ESM.pdf (3.9 MB)
Publication history
Copyright
Acknowledgements
Rights and permissions

Publication history

Received: 19 September 2022
Accepted: 16 December 2022
Published: 16 February 2023
Issue date: March 2023

Copyright

© The Author(s) 2022.

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Basic Science Research Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea, funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning (Grant Nos. NRF-2019R1A2C2002024 and 2021R1A4A1031357).

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made.

The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder.

To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Return