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Photochemical deposition of silver on Fe2O3 nanotubes prepared by anodization and exploring their photoelectrochemical activity

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Abstract

Novel silver-decorated Fe2O3 nanotubes (Ag/FeNT) have been synthesized by a simple, fast and efficient method. Fe2O3 nanotubes (FeNT) have been successfully synthesized on pure iron plates by electrochemical anodizing, followed by silver deposition on the surface of the nanotubes through photodeposition. Various instrumental techniques have been used to investigate the morphology, structure and optical properties of the prepared samples. In addition, the photoelectrochemical water splitting performance of the new electrodes has been studied. An increased photocurrent density and a greatly enhanced onset potential for photoelectrochemical activity have been shown by Ag/FeNT electrodes in comparison with bare FeNT. Silver-decorated Fe2O3 nanotube (sample Ag/FeNT1) shows an almost 2.5-fold increase in photocurrent compared with bare Fe2O3 nanotube. Efficient charge carrier separation, visible light sensitization due to Ag nanoparticles on Fe2O3 nanotube and enhanced electrical conductivity are responsible for the increase in the photoelectrochemical water splitting activity of Ag/FeNT.

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Acknowledgements

The author wish to acknowledge the financial support of Iran National Science Foundation (Project No: 93047933). Also, the authors are so thankful to Isfahan University of Technology for supporting this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 84156-83111, Iran

    Mohamad Mohsen Momeni, Yousef Ghayeb & Akbar Hallaj

  2. Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Related Technologies, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Protective Technologies, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201, People’s Republic of China

    Robabeh Bagheri & Zhenlun Songd

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  1. Mohamad Mohsen Momeni
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  2. Yousef Ghayeb
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  3. Akbar Hallaj
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Correspondence to Mohamad Mohsen Momeni.

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Momeni, M.M., Ghayeb, Y., Hallaj, A. et al. Photochemical deposition of silver on Fe2O3 nanotubes prepared by anodization and exploring their photoelectrochemical activity. Appl. Phys. A 124, 843 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-018-2266-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-018-2266-1

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