ZnFe2O4Nanotapers: Slag Assistant-Growth and Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Efficiency.
In this study, ZnFe2O4(ZFO) nanotapers are fabricated on the ZnO nanorods (NRs) by recycling rare-earth oxide (REO) slag as the iron source, which thereby exhibits dramatically enhanced photoelectrochemical (PEC) efficiency. Our studies demonstrate that the electron-hole separation and charge migration can be facilitated by the cascade band alignment of ZFO and ZnO and the branched nanotaper structures. Not only the iron source, the slag particles can also act as the passivation layers, leading to improved electron lifetime and significant PEC enhancement. The current study presents a novel REO-slag-modified PEC anode for high-efficiency PEC devices and offers a possibility of recycling industrial waste for renewable energy generation.
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology of Beijing (USTB), 100083, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Xuefeng
X
She
Surface Chemistry Laboratory of Electronic Materials, Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 790-784, Korea. zhzhang@postech.ac.kr.
Zhuo
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0687-6041
Z
Zhang
Hetero-nanostructure; Photoelectrochemical; Rare-earth oxide slag; ZnFe2O4