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Nanostructured « Fe2O3/nickel-based co-catalyst» electrode materials for the photoelectrochemical oxidation of urea in wastewaters

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Abstract

The electrochemical and photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of undoped, Ni-doped hematite nanoparticles and the film Ni–Fe2O3/Ni, a photoactive semiconductor, were investigated utilizing a methodology that combined the co-precipitation approach, spin-coating method and the sputtering-assisted synthesis of Fe2O3, Ni–Fe2O3, and Ni–Fe2O3/Ni, respectively. The excellent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) response was observed for 15% Ni–Fe2O3. The super capacitive properties of Ni–Fe2O3 at a scan rate of 10 mVs−1show a maximum super capacitance of 914.76 F/g. The electrochemical oxidation of water achieved by Ni–Fe2O3@GCE modified electrode exhibited the current density of 1.5 mA/cm2 at 1.5 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) for 15% of Ni and reveals enhanced specific capacitance of 914.76 F/g. In another part, this work reported the photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of undoped and 15% Ni–Fe2O3 photoanodes. A photocurrent 1.8 and 0.35 µA/cm2 at 1.5 V vs. RHE was obtained for undoped and 15% Ni–doped hematite, respectively. It is worth to note that the oxidation current density of 15% Ni–Fe2O3/Ni reached 300 µA/cm2 at 1.6 V, which is greater than three times of the highest current density than in water (100 µA/cm2).

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Acknowledgements

The present work was supported by the Research Funds of Electrochemistry, Materials and Environment Research Unit UREME (UR17ES45), Faculty of Sciences Gabes University, Tunisia and Institute of Chemistry and Materials Paris-Est (ICMPE, UMR7182) Thiais, University of Creteil, France.

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  1. Unité de Recherche Electrochimie, Matériaux Et Environnement UREME (UR17ES45), Faculté Des Sciences de Gabès, Université de Gabès, Cité Erriadh, 6072, Gabès, Tunisia

    Assia Karrab & Salah Ammar

  2. Université Paris Est, ICMPE (UMR 7182), CNRS, UPEC, F- 94320, Thiais, France

    Remi Bensimon, Diane Muller-Bouvet, Stéphane Bastide & Christine Cachet-Vivier

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  1. Assia Karrab
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Karrab, A., Bensimon, R., Muller-Bouvet, D. et al. Nanostructured « Fe2O3/nickel-based co-catalyst» electrode materials for the photoelectrochemical oxidation of urea in wastewaters. Appl. Phys. A 128, 1067 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-022-06221-5

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