Interface engineering in nanostructured hematite photoanodes produced via polymeric precursor solution method for solar water splitting

Abstract

Developing efficient photoelectrodes for solar water splitting is a challenge for materials scientists in the search for viable decarbonization alternatives of worldwide energy matrix and industrial processes in general. This PhD research proposal aims to investigate the properties of hematite-based photoanodes for solar water splitting, promoting bulk and interfacial doping driven by a polymeric precursor solution (PPS) synthesis method. Although over the years the best hematite photoanode efficiencies were achieved with columnar morphology from hydrothermal and solvothermal methods, this project search to establish a rational design of hematite interfaces capable of mitigating its poor electronic conductivity and minority carrier short diffusion length in nanostructures with different morphologies as well using a simple, cost-effective, and easily scalable method. (AU)