Influence of potential, deposition time and annealing temperature on photoelectrochemical properties of electrodeposited iron oxide thin films

Morphological transition from nanosheets to elongated dumbbell shaped nanoparticles. [Display omitted] ► α-Fe2O3 thin films were prepared using electrodeposition technique. ► Effects of various aspects on film's photoelectrochemical properties via film's morphology modification. ► Morphology changes from nanosheets to nanoparticles due to high annealing temperature. Nanostructured iron oxide thin films have been prepared by electrodeposition technique and annealed at various temperatures. The effect of deposition potential, deposition time and annealing temperature on photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of α-Fe2O3 thin films was studied. The (104) and (110) peak presence in X-ray diffraction patterns confirms α-Fe2O3 phase formation. The transition on surface morphology from nanosheets to elongated dumbbell shaped nanoparticles occurred that can be attributed to annealing temperature varied from 400 to 700°C. Optical band gap variation was observed due to annealing temperature. It was found that increment in film thickness increases the photocurrent from 253μA/cm2 to 488μA/cm2 at 0.4V vs Ag/AgCl.