CeO _x as Surface Passivation and Hole Transfer Catalyst Layer Boosting Solar Water Oxidation of ZnFe ₂ O ₄ Nanorods Photoanode

Severe surface photocarrier recombination and poor electronic conductivity are the major factors behind sluggish photoelectrochemical water oxidation kinetics of ZnFe2O4 photoanode. Here, CeOx catalyst overlayer has been coupled with reduced nanorods (NRs) to reduce charge on photoanode significantly. The density functional theory (DFT) studies indicate that oxygen vacancy defect-rich constructs a favorable band alignment promoting rapid separation serves as conducting transfer pathway accelerating hole transportation toward electrode/electrolyte interface. ZnFe2O4/CeOx nano-heterostructure exhibits current 0.64 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V versus RHE under AM 1.5 G illumination, which corresponds >167% increase over NRs coupling reduces onset potential cathodically by 180 mV also excellent efficiency (≈64% vs RHE) photostability. results superior catalytic performance in PEC process. This work demonstrates multifunctional role passivation overlayer, layer, efficient evolution reaction catalyst.