Nano structured Fe2O3 film decorated on WO3 Nano rod for photoelectrochemical water splitting application

Photoelectrochemical water splitting is an effective approach for sustainable hydrogen production and addressing global energy demands. The structure and morphology of iron oxide play a vital role in enhancing PEC performance. Fe₂O₃ possesses strong visible-light absorption, non-toxicity, earth abundance, and good chemical stability, making it a promising photoanode material. However, pristine Fe₂O₃ suffers from poor electrical conductivity due to its short hole diffusion length and high interfacial charge-transfer resistance, which limits its PEC efficiency. To overcome these limitations, Fe₂O₃ was coated on WO₃ to form a Fe₂O₃@WO₃ heterostructure, enabling improved charge separation and enhanced interfacial charge transport through favourable band alignment. In this work, nanostructured Fe₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃@WO₃ photoanodes were synthesized via a hydrothermal method to mitigate intrinsic defects and significantly improve photoelectrochemical water-splitting performance.