Photo-Oxidation of Water Using Nanocrystalline Tungsten Oxide under Visible Light

The photoelectrolysis of water to yield hydrogen and oxygen using visible light has enormous potential for solar energy harvesting if suitable photoelectrode materials can be developed. Few of the materials with a band gap suitable for visible light activation have the necessary band-edge potential...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: J. W. J. Hamilton, J. A. Byrne, P. S. M. Dunlop, N. M. D. Brown
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2008-01-01
Series:International Journal of Photoenergy
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2008/185479
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832566993271652352
author J. W. J. Hamilton
J. A. Byrne
P. S. M. Dunlop
N. M. D. Brown
author_facet J. W. J. Hamilton
J. A. Byrne
P. S. M. Dunlop
N. M. D. Brown
author_sort J. W. J. Hamilton
collection DOAJ
description The photoelectrolysis of water to yield hydrogen and oxygen using visible light has enormous potential for solar energy harvesting if suitable photoelectrode materials can be developed. Few of the materials with a band gap suitable for visible light activation have the necessary band-edge potentials or photochemical stability to be suitable candidates. Tungsten oxide (𝐸bg 2.8 eV) is a good candidate with absorption up to 𝜆≈440 nm and known photochemical stability. Thin films of tungsten oxide were prepared using an electrolytic route from peroxo-tungsten precursors. The tungsten oxide thin films were characterised by FESEM, Auger electron spectroscopy, and photoelectrochemical methods. The magnitude of the photocurrent response of the films under solar simulated irradiation showed a dependence on precursor used in the film preparation, with a comparatively lower response for samples containing impurities. The photocurrent response spectrum of the tungsten oxide films was more favourable than that recorded for titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin films. The WO3 photocurrent response was of equivalent magnitude but shifted into the visible region of the spectrum, as compared to that of the TiO2.
format Article
id doaj-art-cb8dc75cfd1a49bab7af6251ef056c7c
institution Kabale University
issn 1110-662X
1687-529X
language English
publishDate 2008-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series International Journal of Photoenergy
spelling doaj-art-cb8dc75cfd1a49bab7af6251ef056c7c2025-02-03T01:02:41ZengWileyInternational Journal of Photoenergy1110-662X1687-529X2008-01-01200810.1155/2008/185479185479Photo-Oxidation of Water Using Nanocrystalline Tungsten Oxide under Visible LightJ. W. J. Hamilton0J. A. Byrne1P. S. M. Dunlop2N. M. D. Brown3Nanotechnology and Integrated BioEngineering Centre, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, County Antrim BT37 0QB, Nanotechnology and Integrated BioEngineering Centre, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, County Antrim BT37 0QB, Nanotechnology and Integrated BioEngineering Centre, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, County Antrim BT37 0QB, Nanotechnology and Integrated BioEngineering Centre, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, County Antrim BT37 0QB, The photoelectrolysis of water to yield hydrogen and oxygen using visible light has enormous potential for solar energy harvesting if suitable photoelectrode materials can be developed. Few of the materials with a band gap suitable for visible light activation have the necessary band-edge potentials or photochemical stability to be suitable candidates. Tungsten oxide (𝐸bg 2.8 eV) is a good candidate with absorption up to 𝜆≈440 nm and known photochemical stability. Thin films of tungsten oxide were prepared using an electrolytic route from peroxo-tungsten precursors. The tungsten oxide thin films were characterised by FESEM, Auger electron spectroscopy, and photoelectrochemical methods. The magnitude of the photocurrent response of the films under solar simulated irradiation showed a dependence on precursor used in the film preparation, with a comparatively lower response for samples containing impurities. The photocurrent response spectrum of the tungsten oxide films was more favourable than that recorded for titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin films. The WO3 photocurrent response was of equivalent magnitude but shifted into the visible region of the spectrum, as compared to that of the TiO2.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2008/185479
spellingShingle J. W. J. Hamilton
J. A. Byrne
P. S. M. Dunlop
N. M. D. Brown
Photo-Oxidation of Water Using Nanocrystalline Tungsten Oxide under Visible Light
International Journal of Photoenergy
title Photo-Oxidation of Water Using Nanocrystalline Tungsten Oxide under Visible Light
title_full Photo-Oxidation of Water Using Nanocrystalline Tungsten Oxide under Visible Light
title_fullStr Photo-Oxidation of Water Using Nanocrystalline Tungsten Oxide under Visible Light
title_full_unstemmed Photo-Oxidation of Water Using Nanocrystalline Tungsten Oxide under Visible Light
title_short Photo-Oxidation of Water Using Nanocrystalline Tungsten Oxide under Visible Light
title_sort photo oxidation of water using nanocrystalline tungsten oxide under visible light
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2008/185479
work_keys_str_mv AT jwjhamilton photooxidationofwaterusingnanocrystallinetungstenoxideundervisiblelight
AT jabyrne photooxidationofwaterusingnanocrystallinetungstenoxideundervisiblelight
AT psmdunlop photooxidationofwaterusingnanocrystallinetungstenoxideundervisiblelight
AT nmdbrown photooxidationofwaterusingnanocrystallinetungstenoxideundervisiblelight