Growth of hematite by using ultrasonic nebulizer pyrolysis for use in a photoelectrochemical electrode

In this study, a hematite photoelectrode was grown on a fluorine-doped tin-oxide substrate by using the ultrasonic nebulizer pyrolysis method. We analyzed the morphological, structural, optical, electrical, and photoelectrochemical properties of hematite samples grown at different temperatures. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy with a 3-electrode potentiostat, were used to characterize hematite. The hematite sample grown at 300 A degrees C had the highest crystallinity and the largest excited minority carrier density. Consequently, the hematite grown at 300 A degrees C had the highest photocurrent density of 0.39 mA/cm(2) at 0.55 V (vs. saturated calomel electrode (Sat. 3.3 M KCl)).