Synthesis and Characterization of the Iron, Yttrium and Chromium Oxides Thin Films Using AACVD for their PEC Applications.

Abstract

It is a dire need for the development of materials that can generate energy from renewable resources, which are helpful to meet the future energy challenges as well as to address global warming. In the present research project, we have studied an efficient method for hydrogen production through water splitting using solar irradiation. We have developed the nanostructured transition metal oxides thin films of yttrium (Y), chromium (Cr) and iron (Fe) from their single source precursors using in-house build aero-sol assisted chemical vapor deposition technique. The as-fabricated thin films were characterized for their structural, optical, morphological, and electrochemical properties using XRD, FESEM, EDS, FTIR, UV and LV measurements. Furthermore, the as-fabricated thin films were applied as working electrode to test their photoelectrochemical water splitting response under xenon lamp irradiation using linear voltammetry. The thin films showed prominence response for PEC applications. Apart from this, it is interesting to mention that we have tried to develop the single source precursor of transition metals i.e. gadolinium, europium, gallium, yttrium and chromium, corresponding to the development of their respective metal sulfide electrodes for PEC study. Unfortunately, we could not be successful in the synthesis of these precursors for metal sulfide thin films fabrication. The detail of the unsuccessful reactions and possible reasons have been discussed in the experimental section of the thesis.