Photoelectrochemical water splitting with porous α-Fe2O3 thin films prepared from Fe/Fe-oxide nanoparticles

We report on the photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance related to water oxidation of porous hematite (α-Fe2O3) thin films, which were prepared by spin coating of colloidal core/shell Fe/Fe-oxide nanoparticles (NPs) on fluorine-doped SnO2 (FTO) substrates. Oxidation of the obtained Fe/Fe-oxide films at 600 °C, 700 °C, and 800 °C in air yielded porous α-Fe2O3 thin films. The advantage of using Fe/Fe-oxide NPs is that they form stable suspensions...