The Influence of the Structural and Morphological Properties of WO<sub>3</sub> Thin Films Obtained by PLD on the Photoelectrochemical Water-Splitting Reaction Efficiency
Due to its physical and chemical properties, the n-type tungsten oxide (WO<sub>3</sub>) semiconductor is a suitable photoanode for water decomposition reaction. The responses of the photoelectrochemical PEC water-splitting properties as an effect of structural and optical changes of WO&l...
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MDPI AG
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/1/110 |
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| author | Florin Andrei Andreea Andrei Ruxandra Birjega Eduard Nicolae Sirjita Alina Irina Radu Maria Dinescu Valentin Ion Valentin-Adrian Maraloiu Valentin Şerban Teodorescu Nicu Doinel Scarisoreanu |
| author_facet | Florin Andrei Andreea Andrei Ruxandra Birjega Eduard Nicolae Sirjita Alina Irina Radu Maria Dinescu Valentin Ion Valentin-Adrian Maraloiu Valentin Şerban Teodorescu Nicu Doinel Scarisoreanu |
| author_sort | Florin Andrei |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Due to its physical and chemical properties, the n-type tungsten oxide (WO<sub>3</sub>) semiconductor is a suitable photoanode for water decomposition reaction. The responses of the photoelectrochemical PEC water-splitting properties as an effect of structural and optical changes of WO<sub>3</sub> thin films, as well as the nature of electrolyte solutions, were studied in this work. The WO<sub>3</sub> thins films have been obtained by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on silicon (Si(001)) covered with platinum substrates using three different laser wavelengths. As the XRD (X-ray diffraction) and XTEM (cross-section transmission electron microscopy) analysis shows, the formation of highly crystalline monocline WO<sub>3</sub> phase is formed for the film deposited at 1064 nm wavelength and poor crystalline phases with a large ordering anisotropy, characteristic of 2D structures for the films deposited at 355 nm and 193 nm wavelengths, respectively. The photogenerated current densities J<sub>ph</sub> depend on the laser wavelength, in both alkaline and acidic electrolyte. The maximum values of the photocurrent density have been obtained for the sample prepared with laser emitting at 355 nm. This behavior can be correlated with the coherent crystallized atomic ordering that appear for long distances (10–15 nm) in the (001) plane of the monoclinic WO<sub>3</sub> phase structure films obtained at 355 nm laser wavelength. All the samples show poor current density in dark conditions and they are very stable in both acidic and alkaline solutions. The highest photocurrent density value is obtained in acidic solution for the WO<sub>3</sub> thin film prepared by 355 nm laser (29 mA/cm<sup>2</sup> at 1.6 V vs. RHE (1.35 V vs. Ag/AgCl)). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:28:13Z |
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| id | doaj.art-98cbdaafefc947919944cf179b1f3065 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:28:13Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-98cbdaafefc947919944cf179b1f30652023-11-21T08:41:58ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912021-01-0111111010.3390/nano11010110The Influence of the Structural and Morphological Properties of WO<sub>3</sub> Thin Films Obtained by PLD on the Photoelectrochemical Water-Splitting Reaction EfficiencyFlorin Andrei0Andreea Andrei1Ruxandra Birjega2Eduard Nicolae Sirjita3Alina Irina Radu4Maria Dinescu5Valentin Ion6Valentin-Adrian Maraloiu7Valentin Şerban Teodorescu8Nicu Doinel Scarisoreanu9National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 077125 Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 077125 Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 077125 Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 077125 Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 077125 Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 077125 Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 077125 Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute for Material Physics, 077125 Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute for Material Physics, 077125 Magurele, RomaniaNational Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 077125 Magurele, RomaniaDue to its physical and chemical properties, the n-type tungsten oxide (WO<sub>3</sub>) semiconductor is a suitable photoanode for water decomposition reaction. The responses of the photoelectrochemical PEC water-splitting properties as an effect of structural and optical changes of WO<sub>3</sub> thin films, as well as the nature of electrolyte solutions, were studied in this work. The WO<sub>3</sub> thins films have been obtained by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on silicon (Si(001)) covered with platinum substrates using three different laser wavelengths. As the XRD (X-ray diffraction) and XTEM (cross-section transmission electron microscopy) analysis shows, the formation of highly crystalline monocline WO<sub>3</sub> phase is formed for the film deposited at 1064 nm wavelength and poor crystalline phases with a large ordering anisotropy, characteristic of 2D structures for the films deposited at 355 nm and 193 nm wavelengths, respectively. The photogenerated current densities J<sub>ph</sub> depend on the laser wavelength, in both alkaline and acidic electrolyte. The maximum values of the photocurrent density have been obtained for the sample prepared with laser emitting at 355 nm. This behavior can be correlated with the coherent crystallized atomic ordering that appear for long distances (10–15 nm) in the (001) plane of the monoclinic WO<sub>3</sub> phase structure films obtained at 355 nm laser wavelength. All the samples show poor current density in dark conditions and they are very stable in both acidic and alkaline solutions. The highest photocurrent density value is obtained in acidic solution for the WO<sub>3</sub> thin film prepared by 355 nm laser (29 mA/cm<sup>2</sup> at 1.6 V vs. RHE (1.35 V vs. Ag/AgCl)).https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/1/110tungsten oxidepulsed laser depositionwater-splittingoxygen evolution reaction |
| spellingShingle | Florin Andrei Andreea Andrei Ruxandra Birjega Eduard Nicolae Sirjita Alina Irina Radu Maria Dinescu Valentin Ion Valentin-Adrian Maraloiu Valentin Şerban Teodorescu Nicu Doinel Scarisoreanu The Influence of the Structural and Morphological Properties of WO<sub>3</sub> Thin Films Obtained by PLD on the Photoelectrochemical Water-Splitting Reaction Efficiency Nanomaterials tungsten oxide pulsed laser deposition water-splitting oxygen evolution reaction |
| title | The Influence of the Structural and Morphological Properties of WO<sub>3</sub> Thin Films Obtained by PLD on the Photoelectrochemical Water-Splitting Reaction Efficiency |
| title_full | The Influence of the Structural and Morphological Properties of WO<sub>3</sub> Thin Films Obtained by PLD on the Photoelectrochemical Water-Splitting Reaction Efficiency |
| title_fullStr | The Influence of the Structural and Morphological Properties of WO<sub>3</sub> Thin Films Obtained by PLD on the Photoelectrochemical Water-Splitting Reaction Efficiency |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Influence of the Structural and Morphological Properties of WO<sub>3</sub> Thin Films Obtained by PLD on the Photoelectrochemical Water-Splitting Reaction Efficiency |
| title_short | The Influence of the Structural and Morphological Properties of WO<sub>3</sub> Thin Films Obtained by PLD on the Photoelectrochemical Water-Splitting Reaction Efficiency |
| title_sort | influence of the structural and morphological properties of wo sub 3 sub thin films obtained by pld on the photoelectrochemical water splitting reaction efficiency |
| topic | tungsten oxide pulsed laser deposition water-splitting oxygen evolution reaction |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/1/110 |
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