Water oxidation electrocatalysis with iron oxide nanoparticles prepared via laser ablation

Iron oxide nanoparticles (FeOx NPs, 5-30 nm size) prepared via laser ablation in liquid were supported onto Indium Tin Oxide conductive glass slides by magnetophoretic deposition (MD) technique. The resulting FeOx@ITO electrodes are characterized by a low amount of iron coverage of 16-50 nmol/cm(2), and show electrocatalytic activity towards water oxidation in neutral phosphate buffer pH 7 with 0.58 V overpotential and quantitative Faradaic efficiency towards oxygen production. XPS analysis on the oxygen region of the FeOx films reveals a substantial hydration of the surface after catalysis, recognized as a crucial step to access reactivity. (C) 2015 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics. All rights reserved.