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Yttrium Doped α-Fe2O3 Nanorods for Enhanced Optoelectronic Properties and Increased Photocurrent Density

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Abstract

Hematite (α-Fe2O3) has received a lot of attention and has potential use in a variety of applications such as energy storage and photovoltaic solar cells despite its short diffusion length and extremely low conductivity. A possible strategy to enhance its structural and optoelectronic properties is element doping. In this work, we report on the successful preparation of α-Fe2O3 nanorods thin film via a simple low-cost hydrothermal process, and the crucial effect of yttrium doping. We analyzed the effects of Y-doping of α-Fe2O3 by varying the amount of yttrium 1, 3, 5, and 8 at %. The optical study revealed that Y-doping reduces the optical band gap, with a shift from 2.11 eV for pure hematite NRs films to 1.94 eV for 5 at % Y-doped NRs. Our study proved that Y-doping obviously reduced the recombination activities in α-Fe2O3 as demonstrated by the photoluminescence study. Amongst all doped α-Fe2O3 NRs films with different Y dopant concentration, the 5 at % exhibited best structural and optoelectronic properties with the highest photocurrent density and incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE). The photocurrent density was increased from 0.25 (undoped) to 1.25 mA/cm2 in the doped NRs with 5 at % Y content at 0.4 V vs. (Ag/AgCl) under illumination, which is 5 times higher than that measured in the pristine α-Fe2O3. The high photo-response of Y-doped NRs in the visible range suggests that the grown NRs thin films are excellent candidates for optoelectronic applications, particularly in solar cells and large light-harvesting devices.

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Funding

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Saudi Arabia, for funding this research work through Grant no. (221419001).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, College of Science and Humanities, Al Quwayiyah, Shaqra University, Shaqra, Saudi Arabia

    Lotfi Derbali & Feriel Bouhjar

  2. Laboratoire de photovoltaique (LPV), Centre de recherches et des technologies de l’énergie (CRTEn), Technopole de Borj Cedria, BP: 95, 2050, Hammam Lif, Tunisia

    Lotfi Derbali & Feriel Bouhjar

  3. Department of Physics, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Asma Alkabsh & Nesrine Zahi

  4. Institut de Disseny i Fabricacion (IDF)—Departament de Fisica Aplicada, Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Cami de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain

    Feriel Bouhjar

  5. Thermal and Energetic Systems Studies Laboratory (LESTE), National Engineering School of Monastir (ENIM), University of Monastir, Rue Ibn Jazzar, 5019, Monastir, Tunisia

    Nesrine Zahi

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  1. Lotfi Derbali
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Correspondence to Lotfi Derbali.

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Derbali, L., Alkabsh, A., Bouhjar, F. et al. Yttrium Doped α-Fe2O3 Nanorods for Enhanced Optoelectronic Properties and Increased Photocurrent Density. Phys. Solid State 66, 1–9 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063783424600407

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