| Issue |
EPL
Volume 104, Number 3, November 2013
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Article Number | 37002 | |
| Number of page(s) | 4 | |
| Section | Condensed Matter: Electronic Structure, Electrical, Magnetic and Optical Properties | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075/104/37002 | |
| Published online | 02 December 2013 | |
ZnIr2O4: An efficient photocatalyst with Rashba splitting
Physical Science & Engineering Division, KAUST - Thuwal 23955–6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
(a) nirpendra.singh@kaust.edu.sa
(b) udo.schwingenschlogl@kaust.edu.sa
Received: 11 July 2013
Accepted: 4 November 2013
Semiconductor-based photocatalysts nowadays are of central interest for the splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen. However, the efficiency of the known materials is small for direct utilization of the solar energy. Using first-principles calculations, we show that ZnIr2O4 can overcome this shortage. Modified Becke-Johnson calculations give an indirect band of 2.25 eV, which can be reduced to the visible energy range by S doping. For 25% S doping we find a direct band gap of 1.25 eV and a Rashba spin splitting of 220 meV Å. The valence band edge potential is 2.89 V against the standard hydrogen electrode, which is sufficient for photocatalytic water oxidation and pollutant degradation. The optical absorption of S-doped ZnIr2O4 is strongly enhanced, making the material an efficient photocatalyst for visible light.
PACS: 71.20.-b – Electron density of states and band structure of crystalline solids / 78.20.-e – Optical properties of bulk materials and thin films
© EPLA, 2013
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