Bio-mimetic ZnFe₂O₄ nanofibril photocatalysts for photoelectrochemical applications: role of electrolyte

IF 2.8 4区工程技术 Q2 ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics Pub Date : 2025-02-21 DOI:10.1007/s10854-025-14387-w

Mohd Faizal Md Nasir, Mohd Nur Ikhmal Salehmin, Mohamad Hafiz Mamat, Mohammad B. Kassim, Salman A. H. Alrokayan, Haseeb A. Khan, Tajamul Hussain, Mohamad Rusop Mahmood

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Abstract

This study presents a simple and effective bio-templated synthesis method for fabricating zinc ferrite (ZnFe₂O₄) nanofiber photoelectrodes, designed to enhance photoelectrochemical (PEC) activity across different electrolytes. Utilizing kapok fiber as a bio-template, a nanofibril-structured catalyst was synthesized and deposited onto fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates via electrophoretic deposition, resulting in thin film photoelectrodes. Comprehensive analytical and spectroscopy techniques, including FESEM, EDX, XRD, ATR-FTIR, UV–Vis, BET, and XPS, confirmed the purity and physiochemical properties of the synthesized sample. PEC measurements reveal that the ZnFe₂O₄ nanofiber photoelectrode achieves significant current densities in different electrolytes, with KOH showing the highest performance followed by Na₂SO₄, Na₂SO₃, and NaOH, respectively, at 0.5 M and 0.7 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The preparation of the bio-mimetic ZnFe₂O₄ nanofiber photocatalyst proves to be a facile, cost-effective, and promising photoanode material for PEC applications, contributing significantly to the advancement of environmentally friendly and efficient energy conversion technologies.

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来源期刊

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics 工程技术-材料科学：综合

CiteScore

5.00

自引率

7.10%

发文量

1931

审稿时长

2 months

期刊介绍： The Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics is an established refereed companion to the Journal of Materials Science. It publishes papers on materials and their applications in modern electronics, covering the ground between fundamental science, such as semiconductor physics, and work concerned specifically with applications. It explores the growth and preparation of new materials, as well as their processing, fabrication, bonding and encapsulation, together with the reliability, failure analysis, quality assurance and characterization related to the whole range of applications in electronics. The Journal presents papers in newly developing fields such as low dimensional structures and devices, optoelectronics including III-V compounds, glasses and linear/non-linear crystal materials and lasers, high Tc superconductors, conducting polymers, thick film materials and new contact technologies, as well as the established electronics device and circuit materials.