Elaboration and characterization of nanoplate structured [alpha]-Fe^sub 2^O^sub 3^ films by Ag^sub 3^PO^sub 4

A new strategy for surface treatment of hematite nanoplates for efficient photoelectrochemical (PEC) performances is proposed. Silver orthophosphate (Ag^sub 3^PO^sub 4^) has been adopted to mediate the formation of α-Fe^sub 2^O^sub 3^ films. Phosphate ions in Ag^sub 3^PO^sub 4^ is found to cause a significant morphology change during annealing process, from β-FeOOH nanorod arrays to hematite nanoplates. Meanwhile, Ag ions is doped into α-Fe^sub 2^O^sub 3^ film. The obtained nanoplate structured Fe^sub 2^O^sub 3^-Ag-P films demonstrate much higher photoelectrochemical performance as photoanodes than the bare Fe^sub 2^O^sub 3^ nanorod thin films. The effects of phosphate and silver ions on the morphology, surface characteristics and the PEC properties of the photoanodes are investigated.