title: Enhancing the water splitting efficiency of Sn-doped hematite nanoflakes by flame annealing.
abstract: The effect of flame annealing on the water-splitting properties of Sn decorated hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanoflakes has been investigated. It is shown that flame annealing can yield a considerable enhancement in the maximum photocurrent under AM 1.5 (100 mW cm(-2)) conditions compared to classic furnace annealing treatments. Optimizing the annealing time (10 s at 1000 °C) leads to a photocurrent of 1.1 mA cm(-2) at 1.23 V (vs. RHE) with a maximum value 1.6 mA cm(-2) at 1.6 V (vs. RHE) in 1 M KOH. The improvement in photocurrent can be attributed to the fast direct heating that maintains the nanoscale morphology, leads to optimized Sn decoration, and minimizes detrimental substrate effects.
authors: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, WW4-LKO, University of Erlangen-Nuremburg, Martensstr. 7, 91058 Erlangen (Germany), Fax: (+49) 9131 85 275 82.
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: Chong-Yong
authors: CY
authors: Lee
authors: Anca
authors: A
authors: Mazare
authors: Kiyoung
authors: K
authors: Lee
authors: Julian
authors: J
authors: Müller
authors: Erdmann
authors: E
authors: Spiecker
authors: Patrik
authors: P
authors: Schmuki
keywords: doping; hematite nanoflakes; water splitting