Visible light-induced electronic structure modulation of Nb- and Ta-doped α -Fe 2 O 3 nanorods for effective photoelectrochemical water splitting

The photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting activity of Nb and Ta-doped hematite ( α -Fe 2 O 3 ) nanorods was investigated with reference to electronic structures by in situ synchrotron x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Current density-potential measurements demonstrate that the PEC activity of α -Fe 2 O 3 nanorods depends strongly on the species and concentrations of dopants. The doping of α -Fe 2 O 3 nanorods with a low level of Nb or Ta can improve their electrical conductivity and thereby facilitate charge transport and reduced electron–hole recombination therein. The photoconversion effects of Nb and Ta-doped α -Fe 2 O 3 by in situ XAS in the dark and under illumination revealed opposite evolutions of the spectral intensities of the Fe L-edge and Nb/Ta L-edge, indicating that charge transfer and a conduction pathway are involved in the photoconversion. Analy...

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