One-dimensional Fe2O3/TiO2 photoelectrode and investigation of its photoelectric properties in photoelectrochemical cell

We reported a novel Fe 2 O 3 /rutile TiO 2 nanorod (NR) arrays with the heterogeneous structure for photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells, which were fabricated on fluorine-doped tin oxide glass (FTO) substrates that serve as model architecture via a hydrothermal method. Fe 2 O 3 was revealed as an inexpensive and eco-friendly semiconductor sensitizer to make TiO 2 respond to visible light . By using this photoanode, the photoelectric conversion and water splitting properties of PEC cells based on the one-dimensional (1D) Fe 2 O 3 /TiO 2 heterostructures were investigated in detail under simulated sunlight. Meanwhile, the optimization of photovoltaic performance was also achieved by regulating the amount of Fe 2 O 3 . The open circuit voltage and short circuit current of the Fe 2 O 3 /TiO 2 solar cell can reach 0.435   V and 1.840   mA/cm 2 , respectively. In addition, theoretical analysis of the photoelectric effect is preliminarily explored on the basis of the flat band potential results.