Phase control of iron oxides grown in nano-scale cauliflower structures: hematite, maghemite and magnetite

• We demonstrate that iron oxide in the form of hematite, suitable as absorber in photoelectrochemical cells, can be produced by pulsed chemical vapour deposition. By choosing carbon monoxide or nitrogen as carrier gases in the process the phase and granularity of the grown material can be controlled. The choice of carrier gas a ect the decomposition rate of iron pentacarbonyl used as iron precursor. The iron oxide phase is also dependent on the chosen substrate, here fluorine doped tin oxide and crystalline silicon have been used. Regardless of the substrate nitrogen yields hematite, whereas carbon monoxide gives magnetite on Si and maghemite on fluorine doped tin oxide. A combination of Raman spectroscopy, X-ray di raction, and hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used for characterization of the crystalline phase and chemical composition in the films. Scanning electron microscopy were used to visualise the deposited films’ nano-structure reminiscent of a cauliflower.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik -- Bearbetnings-, yt- och fogningsteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering -- Manufacturing, Surface and Joining Technology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Hard X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

HAXPES

Hematite

Thin Films

Pulsed Chemical Vapour Deposition

PEC

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

ovr (subject category)