Potent and environmental-friendly l-cysteine @ Fe2O3 nanostructure for photoelectrochemical water splitting

This study prepared well arrayed hematite nanotube by electrochemical anodization on mild steel. After depositing l-cysteine on it, an enhanced OER performance was observed. This is attributed to more efficient hole migration pathway, lower interfacial resistance, and superior surface stability than pure nanostructured hematite through chemical bonding of the nucleophile center of l-cysteine including carboxylate and thiol group to the substrate. The highlight of this study is to supply a simple and effective method on PEC water splitting and attempt to explain the mechanism.218