Charge carrier trapping, recombination and transfer in hematite (α-Fe2O3) water splitting photoanodes

Abstract

Hematite is currently considered one of the most promising materials for the conversion and storage of solar energy via the photoelectrolysis of water. Whilst there has been extensive research and much progress in the development of hematite structures with enhanced photoelectrochemical (PEC) activity, relatively limited information has been available until recently concerning the dynamics of photogenerated charge carriers in hematite and their impact upon the efficiency of water photoelectrolysis. In this perspective we present an overview of our recent studies of the dynamics of photoinduced charge carrier processes in hematite, derived primarily from transient absorption spectroscopy of nanostructured photoanodes. The relationship between PEC activity and transient measurements are discussed in terms of a phenomenological model which rationalizes the observations and in particular the impact of external potential bias on the relative rates of charge carrier trapping, recombination and interfacial transfer in hematite photoanodes for water oxidation.