• Emerson Coy, Phd, Dsc.
• Kupracz, Piotr
• Siuzdak, Katarzyna
• Grochowska, Katarzyna
• Karczewski, Jakub
• Rysz, Jakub

Abstract

<p>The rapid, only a few minutes long synthesis of FeO, Fe₃O₄, and Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles mixture utilizing the pulsed laser ablation using simply pure iron target and water was demonstrated. The size and crystal phase of Fe-based NPs were characterized using DLS and HR-TEM techniques, respectively. The metastable suspension of FeO, Fe₃O₄, and Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles was used to the decoration of anodized TiO₂ nanotubes (TiO₂-NTs) by means of the ultrasonic bath. SEM inspection confirms preservation of the ordered morphology even upon 60 min long exposition to the ultrasounds whereas TOF SIMS indicated penetration of iron species down to the TiO₂-NTs base. Finally, the electrochemical investigation of decorated and bare TiO₂-NTs has shown a response typical for Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ iron species and the boosted activity towards oxygen evolution reaction in the anodic regime. As of high importance, for the 30 min long ultrasound-assisted modification, the photocurrent was enhanced almost 2.5 times comparing to the pristine material exposed to the solar light, although differences in optical properties were negligible. Taking into account outstanding activity namely response upon irradiation and effectiveness of water splitting, the proposed approach can be regarded as a facile one generating much less waste in comparison to typical wet-chemistry methods.</p>

Topics

• nanoparticle
• phase
• scanning electron microscopy
• nanotube
• Oxygen
• laser emission spectroscopy
• transmission electron microscopy
• ultrasonic
• iron
• selective ion monitoring
• dynamic light scattering
• laser ablation