α-Fe2O3/TiO2 heterostructured photoanode on titanium substrate for photoelectrochemical water electrolysis

In the present investigation, α-Fe2O3/TiO2 heterostructured photoanode prepared on titanium substrates for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. The nanostructured α-Fe2O3/TiO2 photoanode prepared on titanium substrates through an aqueous chemical growth method and the optimized structure shows a maximum photocurrent density of about 0.5 mA cm−2 at 1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl in 1 M KOH and this is the highest photocurrent density associated with water oxidation reported for α-Fe2O3/TiO2 heterostructure formed on a titanium substrate under a standard AM 1.5G solar irradiation. The physicochemical characterization of the prepared α-Fe2O3/TiO2 heterostructure was characterized through scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-rays, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectra and work function was examined by a Scanning Kelvin Probe technique. It is also envisaged that titanium substrates can replace TCO substrates in terms of fragility, cost and performance for practical PEC reactors.