A beta-FeO nanoparticle-assembled film for photoelectrochemical water splitting.

Since FeO is a promising photoanode material for water splitting, it has attracted much attention, while other phases of ferric oxide are ignored. Here, β-FeO was used as a photoanode material for solar water splitting. The crystal structure and phase of β-FeO were characterized by using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman scattering, Mössbauer spectra and a superconducting quantum interference device. The photocurrent density of the β-FeO photoanode at 1.6 V was 0.12 mA·cm under the illumination of simulated sunlight (AM1.5G, 100 mW cm).