Erbium and Titanium Co‐Doped Hematite Nanorods: Structural, Optical, and Catalytic Properties for Enhanced Water Splitting

Herein, hydrothermally synthesized hematite nanorods (NRs) co-doped with erbium and titanium, using titanium tetrachloride erbium(III) nitrate pentahydrate as the dopant sources, are presented. The effect of varied volumes erbium/titanium surface co-dopants on morphology, structural, optical, photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties NRs is investigated. pristine hematite, 40 μL -Er, -Er/20 -Ti-doped samples present a similar morphology vertically aligned NRs. randomly oriented an increase in for -Er/30 later coalesced -Er/40 structural analysis based X-ray diffraction Raman uniform, pure phase all prepared exhibit high photon absorbance peaks 400–450 nm wavelength range visible spectrum. sample highest photocurrent density 83.9 μA cm−2 at 1.4 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) attributed to lowest flat band potential (−0.76 RHE) that enhances charge mobility electrode–electrolyte interface. These results reveal facile doping viable strategy enhancing their PEC water-splitting performance.