화학공학소재연구정보센터
홈 로그인 로그아웃 연락처 사이트맵
Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol.38, No.6, 1149-1160, June, 2021
DOI10.1007/s11814-021-0750-3  Export Citation
Engineering of cobalt oxide-integrated nitric acid-functionalized Zr-Fe2O3 nanocoral photoanodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting
Jun Beom Hwang, Sarang Kim, Weon-Sik Chae1, Habib Mohiddin Pathan2, Mahadeo Abasaheb Mahadik†, and Jum Suk Jang†
  • Division of Biotechnology, Safety, Environment and Life Science Institute, College of Environmental and Bioresource Sciences, Chonbuk National University, Iksan 54596, Korea
  • 1Daegu Center, Korea Basic Science Institute, Daegu 41566, Korea
  • 2Advanced Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune-411007, India
E-mail:,
A strategy involving CoOx catalyst adsorption and acid treatment for modifying the surface properties of Zr-doped hematite nanocoral (NC) photoanodes has been proposed. Acid-treated Zr-Fe2O3 NCs exhibited a reduced electrode/electrolyte interface resistance and improved surface charge-injection efficiency. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data confirmed an increased number of hydroxy groups and the formation of Fe2+ sites on the surface of the acidtreated Zr-Fe2O3 NC, suggesting surface amendment. Furthermore, after surface amendment with a 1mM Co(OAc)2 solution, the CoOx encapsulated acid-treated Zr-Fe2O3 NC photoanode exhibited a photocurrent density of 1.83mA/ cm2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE, following a 200-mV cathodic shift in the photocurrent onset compared with the bare Zr-Fe2O3 NC. The experimental results indicated the efficacy of acid treatment and CoOx adsorption for reducing the surface state and enhancing the photoelectrochemical water-oxidation performance. The acid-treatment step in the CoOxencapsulated acid-treated Zr-Fe2O3 NC provided a CoOx catalyst adsorption bond and permitted the kinetics of the charge-transfer process. This synergistic strategy of acid treatment and CoOx adsorption for enhancing the PEC performance provides a reference for accelerating the charge separation for other photoelectrodes.
Keywords:CoOx Adsorption;Nitric Acid Treatment;Zr-doped Hematite Nanocorals;Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation
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