The viability of water-splitting catalysts as commercial sources of renewable energy is strongly dependent on the ability of these materials to utilize the visible portion of the solar spectrum, though most narrow band gap materials (Eg &lt; 3eV) are capable of efficiently driving only one half of the water splitting reaction (i.e hydrogen evolution reaction or the oxygen evolution reaction), not both. In the absence of sacrificial reagents, these materials are subject to deactivation or decomposition. Stacked thin films of CdS (Eg 2.4 eV) and α-Fe2O3 (Eg 2.2 eV) have been fabricated by sequential electrodeposition on titania-coated transparent conductive oxide substrates to photocatalytically drive the full water splitting reaction. Under visible irradiation, α-Fe2O3 is known to drive the oxygen evolution reaction, leaving behind an accumulation of conduction band electrons. These electrons act to suppress the decomposition of the hydrogen evolution catalyst, CdS, which would otherwise proceed due to oxidation of sulfide by trapped valence band holes. Stabilization of the composite is confirmed by a two-electrode photocurrent decay experiment. Further research is underway to optimize the relative film thicknesses.

Sustained photocurrent in CdS/α-Fe2O3 stacked thin films on titania-coated transparent conductive substrates

249th National Meeting (2015)

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<br /> Sustained photocurrent in CdS/α-Fe2O3 stacked thin films on titania-coated transparent conductive substrates

<br /> Sustained photocurrent in CdS/α-Fe₂O₃ stacked thin films on titania-coated transparent conductive substrates