Induced Dipole in Vanadium-doped Zinc Oxide Nanosheets and its Effects on Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting.

Title Induced Dipole in Vanadium-doped Zinc Oxide Nanosheets and its Effects on Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting.
Authors S.Mi Lee; S.H. Shin; J. Nah; M.Hyung Lee
Journal Nanotechnology
DOI 10.1088/1361-6528/aa80ae
Abstract

Appropriate control of energy band bending at the interface between semiconductors and electrolytes are closely related to performance of photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Dipoles formed near the surface of semiconductors induces energy band bending at the interface. Energy band bending control has been demonstrated by employing charged molecules and piezoelectric materials. However, chemical and piezoelectric approaches have demerit of chemical instability and inducement of instantaneous dipole, respectively. To overcome these problems, we adopted the ferroelectric material for PEC water splitting, where spontaneous dipoles in the material can be oriented by applying external electric field. In this work, we hydrothermally synthesized vanadium (V)-doped ferroelectric ZnO nanosheets (NSs) and employed to systematically investigate the dipole effect on performance of V-doped ZnO PEC for water oxidation. Consequently, positively polarized V-doped ZnO photoanode exhibits 125 % enhanced water splitting efficiency compared to negatively polarized ones due to favorable band bending for carrier transport from semiconductor to water.

Citation S.Mi Lee; S.H. Shin; J. Nah; M.Hyung Lee.Induced Dipole in Vanadium-doped Zinc Oxide Nanosheets and its Effects on Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting.. Nanotechnology. 2017. doi:10.1088/1361-6528/aa80ae

Related Elements

Vanadium

See more Vanadium products. Vanadium (atomic symbol: V, atomic number: 23) is a Block D, Group 5, Period 4 element with an atomic weight of 50.9415. Vanadium Bohr ModelThe number of electrons in each of Vanadium's shells is 2, 8, 11, 2 and its electron configuration is [Ar] 3d3 4s2. The vanadium atom has a radius of 134 pm and a Van der Waals radius of 179 pm. Vanadium was discovered by Andres Manuel del Rio in 1801 and first isolated by Nils Gabriel Sefström in 1830. In its elemental form, vanadium has a bluish-silver appearance. Elemental VanadiumIt is a hard, ductile transition metal that is primarily used as a steel additive and in alloys such as Titanium-6AL-4V, which is composed of titanium, aluminum, and vanadium and is the most common titanium alloy commercially produced. Vanadium is found in fossil fuel deposits and 65 different minerals. Vanadium is not found free in nature; however, once isolated it forms an oxide layer that stabilizes the free metal against further oxidation. Vanadium was named after the word "Vanadis" meaning goddess of beauty in Scandinavian mythology.

Zinc

See more Zinc products. Zinc (atomic symbol: Zn, atomic number: 30) is a Block D, Group 12, Period 4 element with an atomic weight of 65.38. The number of electrons in each of zinc's shells is 2, 8, 18, 2, and its electron configuration is [Ar] 3d10 4s2. Zinc Bohr ModelThe zinc atom has a radius of 134 pm and a Van der Waals radius of 210 pm. Zinc was discovered by Indian metallurgists prior to 1000 BC and first recognized as a unique element by Rasaratna Samuccaya in 800. Zinc was first isolated by Andreas Marggraf in 1746. In its elemental form, zinc has a silver-gray appearance. It is brittle at ordinary temperatures but malleable at 100 °C to 150 °C.Elemental Zinc It is a fair conductor of electricity, and burns in air at high red producing white clouds of the oxide. Zinc is mined from sulfidic ore deposits. It is the 24th most abundant element in the earth's crust and the fourth most common metal in use (after iron, aluminum, and copper). The name zinc originates from the German word "zin," meaning tin.

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