Influence of tantalum dopant ions (Ta5+) on the efficiency of the tungsten trioxide photoelectrode

The paper presents the influence of the tantalum dopant ions (Ta5+) on the properties of WO3 film, used as photoelectrode for water photolysis. The photoluminescence and photocurrent stability were recorded in a photoelectrochemical system having doped and, respectively, undoped WO3 films, deposited by spray pyrolysis on fluorine-doped tin oxide as photoanode and Pt as cathode, in electrolyte HCl (pH = 5). The crystalline structure, topography and electrical properties were investigated. The experiments confirm that the doping process double the photoelectrode efficiency. (c) 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.