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Physical and photo-electrochemical properties of the spinel SrFe2O4: application to hydrogen production under visible light

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Abstract

SrFe2O4 prepared by sol–gel method after annealing at 800 °C crystallizes in a normal spinel structure. The structural, morphological, magnetic, optical, transport, and photo-electrochemical properties were systematically investigated. The sol–gel permits to have nanocrystallites with an average size of ~ 30 nm. The UV–Visible diffuse reflectance analysis gives a direct transition of 1.80 eV, resulting from the Fe3+: 3d orbital splitting in octahedral site. Such degeneracy lifting into (t2g–eg) levels is properly matched to the sun spectrum. The capacitance–potential (C−2 − E) characteristic of SrFe2O4 plotted in basic electrolyte (KOH 0.1 M) exhibits p-type comportment with a flat band potential of (Efb) of 0.01 VSCE, a holes density (NA) of 1.4 × 1015 cm−3, and an extended space charge region of 0.9 µm. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy exhibits a semicircle characteristic of the charge transfer whose diameter decreases under irradiation, thus supporting the semiconducting character of SrFe2O4. The electrons in the conduction band (− 1.70 V) have a high reducing ability and cathodically positioned with respect to the H2O/H2 level, thus producing H2 evolution under visible light illumination with a concomitant oxidation of SO32−/S2O62−. The best activity occurs at pH ~ 11 with H2 evolution rate of 35 μmol mn−1 g−1 and a quantum yield of 1.8% under visible light (29 mW cm−2).

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Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted to Dr R. Brahimi (USTHB University) for her technical assistance. The authors also thank the financial support by the Faculty of Chemistry (Algiers).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Storage and Valorization of Renewable Energies, Faculty of Chemistry (USTHB), BP 32, 16111, Algiers, Algeria

    S. Attia, N. Helaili, G. Rekhila, Y. Bessekhouad & M. Trari

  2. National Veterinary School, BP 161-El Harrach, Algiers, Algeria

    Y. Bessekhouad

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  1. S. Attia
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  2. N. Helaili
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Contributions

NH supervised the work, NH and MT discussed the results and wrote the manuscript. SA and NH performed the experiments, GR did the application part. NH and MT and YB discussed the results.

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Correspondence to N. Helaili or M. Trari.

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Attia, S., Helaili, N., Rekhila, G. et al. Physical and photo-electrochemical properties of the spinel SrFe2O4: application to hydrogen production under visible light. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 33, 9976–9987 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-022-07989-1

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