Iron Oxide Semiconductor Electrodes in Photoassisted Electrolysis of Water

The preparation of polycrystalline n‐type iron oxide electrodes by heating of iron samples in air is reported. The behavior of these electrodes in aqueous solutions of different p H values in the presence and absence of illumination is shown. The photocurrent response of these electrodes to all wavelengths in the visible region is seen. Photoassisted electrolysis of water occurs at these wavelengths resulting in the evolution of oxygen bubbles at the iron oxide electrodes with no noticeable corrosion problems in p H 4.0 acetate buffer to solutions