Fine-Tuning Pulse Reverse Electrodeposition for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation Performance of α-Fe2O3 Photoanodes

High:quality hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) photoanodes were syritheSized from a sulfate electrolyte bath by the pulse reverse electrodeposition (PRED) method. The influence of PRED parameters (viz, duty cycle, pulse period, and deposition time) was systematically investigated on the structural, optical, morphological, and photo electrochemical properties of the films. The optimized parameters of pulse duty cycle, pulse:period, and the deposition time were 20%, 10 ms, and 45 s, respectively. The granular and compact nanocrystalline morphology of the alpha-Fe2O3 was found to alter according to the process parameters. The alpha-Fe2O3 electrodes (film thickness similar to 200 nm) prepared by annealing at 550 degrees C for 4 h followed by 800 degrees C for 15 min exhibited an optimum photocurrent density of 504 mu A cm(-2) measured at 1.23 V vs RHE in 1 M NaOH electrolyte under 100 mW cm(-2) light illumination.