Influence of plasmonic Au nanoparticles on the photoactivity of Fe 2O3 electrodes for water splitting

Elijah Thimsen; Florian Le Formal; Michael Grätzel; Scott C. Warren

doi:10.1021/nl1022354

Influence of plasmonic Au nanoparticles on the photoactivity of Fe ₂O₃ electrodes for water splitting

Elijah Thimsen
, Florian Le Formal
, Michael Grätzel
, Scott C. Warren

Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

434 Scopus citations

Abstract

An experimental study of the influence of gold nanoparticles on a-Fe ₂O₃ photoanodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting is described. A relative enhancement in the water splitting efficiency at photon frequencies corresponding to the plasmon resonance in gold was observed. This relative enhancement was observed only for electrode geometries with metal particles that were localized at the semiconductor-electrolyte interface, consistent with the observation that minority carrier transport to the electrolyte is the most significant impediment to achieving high efficiencies in this system.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	35-43
Number of pages	9
Journal	Nano Letters
Volume	11
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/nl1022354
State	Published - Jan 12 2011

Keywords

Aerosol
Au nanoparticles
Fame aerosol reactor
FeO
Hematite
Hydrogen
Iron oxide
Photoelectrochemical water splitting
Solar energy
Spray pyrolysis
Surface plasmon

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10.1021/nl1022354

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title = "Influence of plasmonic Au nanoparticles on the photoactivity of Fe 2O3 electrodes for water splitting",

abstract = "An experimental study of the influence of gold nanoparticles on a-Fe 2O3 photoanodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting is described. A relative enhancement in the water splitting efficiency at photon frequencies corresponding to the plasmon resonance in gold was observed. This relative enhancement was observed only for electrode geometries with metal particles that were localized at the semiconductor-electrolyte interface, consistent with the observation that minority carrier transport to the electrolyte is the most significant impediment to achieving high efficiencies in this system.",

keywords = "Aerosol, Au nanoparticles, Fame aerosol reactor, FeO, Hematite, Hydrogen, Iron oxide, Photoelectrochemical water splitting, Solar energy, Spray pyrolysis, Surface plasmon",

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doi = "10.1021/nl1022354",

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AU - Thimsen, Elijah

AU - Le Formal, Florian

AU - Grätzel, Michael

AU - Warren, Scott C.

PY - 2011/1/12

Y1 - 2011/1/12

N2 - An experimental study of the influence of gold nanoparticles on a-Fe 2O3 photoanodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting is described. A relative enhancement in the water splitting efficiency at photon frequencies corresponding to the plasmon resonance in gold was observed. This relative enhancement was observed only for electrode geometries with metal particles that were localized at the semiconductor-electrolyte interface, consistent with the observation that minority carrier transport to the electrolyte is the most significant impediment to achieving high efficiencies in this system.

AB - An experimental study of the influence of gold nanoparticles on a-Fe 2O3 photoanodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting is described. A relative enhancement in the water splitting efficiency at photon frequencies corresponding to the plasmon resonance in gold was observed. This relative enhancement was observed only for electrode geometries with metal particles that were localized at the semiconductor-electrolyte interface, consistent with the observation that minority carrier transport to the electrolyte is the most significant impediment to achieving high efficiencies in this system.

KW - Aerosol

KW - Au nanoparticles

KW - Fame aerosol reactor

KW - FeO

KW - Hematite

KW - Hydrogen

KW - Iron oxide

KW - Photoelectrochemical water splitting

KW - Solar energy

KW - Spray pyrolysis

KW - Surface plasmon

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/79951536761

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DO - 10.1021/nl1022354

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SN - 1530-6984

VL - 11

SP - 35

EP - 43

JO - Nano Letters

JF - Nano Letters

IS - 1

ER -

Influence of plasmonic Au nanoparticles on the photoactivity of Fe ₂O₃ electrodes for water splitting

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Keywords

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