Iron Oxide Semiconductor Electrodes in Photoassisted Electrolysis of Water

Abstract

Thepreparation of polycrystalline n-type iron oxide electrodes by heatingof ironsamples in air is reported. The behavior of these electrodesin aqueoussolutions of different pH values in the presence andabsence of illuminationis shown. The photocurrent response of these electrodesto all wavelengths inthe visible region is seen. Photoassisted electrolysisof water occurs at thesewavelengths resulting in the evolution ofoxygen bubbles at the iron oxideelectrodes with no noticeable corrosionproblems in pH 4.0 acetate buffer to5.5M KOH solutions ©1977 The Electrochemical Society, Inc.