Electron Localization and Transport in SnO2/TiO2 Mesoporous Thin Films : Evidence for a SnO2/SnxTi1-xO2/TiO2 Structure

A study of SnO2/TiO2 core/shell films was undertaken to investigate the influences of shell thickness and post deposition sintering on electron localization and transport properties. Electrochemical reduction of the materials resulted in the appearance of a broad visible-near IR absorbance that provided insights into the electronic state(s) within the core/shell structures. As the shell thickness was increased from 0.5 to 5 nm, evidence for the presence of a SnxTi1-xO2 interfacial state emerged that was physically located between the core and the shell. The lifetime of photoinjected electrons increased with the shell thickness. Electron transport occurred through the SnO2 core; however, when materials with shell thicknesses ≥2 nm were annealed at 450 °C, a new electron transport pathway through the shell was evident. The data indicate that these materials are best described as SnO2/SnxTi1-xO2/TiO2 where electrons preferentially localize in a SnxTi1-xO2 interfacial state and transport through SnO2 and annealed TiO2 (if present). The implications of these results for applications in solar energy conversion are discussed.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2019

Erschienen:

2019

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:35

Enthalten in:

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids - 35(2019), 39 vom: 01. Okt., Seite 12694-12703

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

James, Erica M [VerfasserIn]
Bennett, Marc T [VerfasserIn]
Bangle, Rachel E [VerfasserIn]
Meyer, Gerald J [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Journal Article

Anmerkungen:

Date Revised 04.03.2020

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status PubMed-not-MEDLINE

doi:

10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b02216

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM300435010