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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC 3.0Chemical Science

Tuning heterojunction pathways via transition metal oxides on fibrous silica iron for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting

  • Muhammad Hafizuddin Mohd Sofi1
  • Aishah Abdul Jalil1,2
  • Muhamed Yusuf Shahul Hamid1,2
  • Rohayu Jusoh3,4
  • Saravanan Rajendran5
  • Anees Ameera Fauzi2
  • Nik Muhammad Izzudin1
  • Liew Shi Yan1
  • Nur Izzati Hannani Hazril1
  • Faiz Arith6
6 affiliations
  1. 1Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia 81310 UTM Johor Bahru Johor Malaysia +60-7-5536165 +60-7-5535581
  2. 2Centre of Hydrogen Energy, Institute of Future Energy 81310 UTM Johor Bahru Johor Malaysia
  3. 3Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Lebuh Persiaran Tun Khalil Yaakob, 26300 Gambang Pahang Malaysia
  4. 4Centre for Research in Advanced Fluid & Processes, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Lebuh Persiaran Tun Khalil Yaakob, 26300 Gambang Pahang Malaysia
  5. 5Instituto de Alta, Investigación, Universidad de Tarapacá Arica-1000000 Chile
  6. 6Faculty of Electronic and Computer Technology and Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100, Durian Tunggal Melaka Malaysia
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Abstract

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting offers a promising route to sustainable green hydrogen production by directly converting solar energy into hydrogen without consuming fossil fuels. However, inefficient charge separation and sluggish interfacial charge transfer remain major limitations in photoanode development. Herein, fibrous silica iron oxide (FSFe) was synthesized as a photoanode and modified with CuO, ZnO, and NiO to regulate heterojunction pathways for enhanced PEC water splitting. Characterization results confirmed the formation of high-surface-area spherical fibrous structures with well-dispersed metal oxide species, while the primary FSFe framework was preserved after metal loading. The electrochemical characterization revealed that transition-metal oxide modification increased the charge carrier density and reduced charge transfer resistance, indicating efficient charge separation and interfacial charge transport. Among the prepared photoanodes, Cu/FSFe exhibited the highest photocurrent density of 4.14 mA cm−2 at 1.23 VRHE and an applied bias photon-to-current efficiency of 0.78%, compared with 2.70 mA cm−2 and 0.54% for pristine FSFe. The superior performance of Cu/FSFe was attributed to the combined effects of Z-scheme heterojunction formation and the strong visible-light response of CuO. Compared with the Type-II pathways proposed for Ni/FSFe and Zn/FSFe, the Z-scheme pathway in Cu/FSFe promoted efficient charge separation while preserving strong redox potentials, leading to a higher charge carrier density of 1.92 × 1021 cm−3, improved interfacial charge transfer, and enhanced PEC water splitting performance. This work provides insight into how the selection of transition-metal oxide modifiers governs heterojunction formation and charge transfer pathways in FSFe-based photoanodes for PEC water splitting.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{sofi2026tuning,
  title = {{Tuning heterojunction pathways via transition metal oxides on fibrous silica iron for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting}},
  author = {Muhammad Hafizuddin Mohd Sofi and Aishah Abdul Jalil and Muhamed Yusuf Shahul Hamid and Rohayu Jusoh and Saravanan Rajendran and Anees Ameera Fauzi and Nik Muhammad Izzudin and Liew Shi Yan and Nur Izzati Hannani Hazril and Faiz Arith},
  journal = {Chemical Science},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1039/d6sc04573a},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1039/d6sc04573a},
  note = {CC BY-NC 3.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Tuning heterojunction pathways via transition metal oxides on fibrous silica iron for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting
AU  - Muhammad Hafizuddin Mohd Sofi
AU  - Aishah Abdul Jalil
AU  - Muhamed Yusuf Shahul Hamid
AU  - Rohayu Jusoh
AU  - Saravanan Rajendran
AU  - Anees Ameera Fauzi
AU  - Nik Muhammad Izzudin
AU  - Liew Shi Yan
AU  - Nur Izzati Hannani Hazril
AU  - Faiz Arith
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/29
JO  - Chemical Science
DO  - 10.1039/d6sc04573a
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1039/d6sc04573a
AB  - Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting offers a promising route to sustainable green hydrogen production by directly converting solar energy into hydrogen without consuming fossil fuels. However, inefficient charge separation and sluggish interfacial charge transfer remain major limitations in photoanode development. Herein, fibrous silica iron oxide (FSFe) was synthesized as a photoanode and modified with CuO, ZnO, and NiO to regulate heterojunction pathways for enhanced PEC water splitting. Characterization results confirmed the formation of high-surface-area spherical fibrous structures with well-dispersed metal oxide species, while the primary FSFe framework was preserved after metal loading. The electrochemical characterization revealed that transition-metal oxide modification increased the charge carrier density and reduced charge transfer resistance, indicating efficient charge separation and interfacial charge transport. Among the prepared photoanodes, Cu/FSFe exhibited the highest photocurrent density of 4.14 mA cm−2 at 1.23 VRHE and an applied bias photon-to-current efficiency of 0.78%, compared with 2.70 mA cm−2 and 0.54% for pristine FSFe. The superior performance of Cu/FSFe was attributed to the combined effects of Z-scheme heterojunction formation and the strong visible-light response of CuO. Compared with the Type-II pathways proposed for Ni/FSFe and Zn/FSFe, the Z-scheme pathway in Cu/FSFe promoted efficient charge separation while preserving strong redox potentials, leading to a higher charge carrier density of 1.92 × 1021 cm−3, improved interfacial charge transfer, and enhanced PEC water splitting performance. This work provides insight into how the selection of transition-metal oxide modifiers governs heterojunction formation and charge transfer pathways in FSFe-based photoanodes for PEC water splitting.
SN  - 2041-6520
SN  - 2041-6539
ER  -