A strategy involving CoO_x catalyst adsorption and acid treatment for modifying the surface properties of Zr-doped hematite nanocoral (NC) photoanodes has been proposed. Acid-treated Zr-Fe₂O₃ NCs exhibited a reduced electrode/electrolyte interface resistance and improved surface charge-injection efficiency. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data confirmed an increased number of hydroxy groups and the formation of Fe²⁺ sites on the surface of the acid-treated Zr-Fe₂O₃ NC, suggesting surface amendment. Furthermore, after surface amendment with a 1 mM Co(OAc)₂ solution, the CoO_x encapsulated acid-treated Zr-Fe₂O₃ NC photoanode exhibited a photocurrent density of 1.83 mA/cm² at 1.23 V vs. RHE, following a 200-mV cathodic shift in the photocurrent onset compared with the bare Zr-Fe₂O₃ NC. The experimental results indicated the efficacy of acid treatment and CoO_x adsorption for reducing the surface state and enhancing the photoelectrochemical water-oxidation performance. The acid-treatment step in the CoO_x-encapsulated acid-treated Zr-Fe₂O₃ NC provided a CoO_x catalyst adsorption bond and permitted the kinetics of the charge-transfer process. This synergistic strategy of acid treatment and CoO_x adsorption for enhancing the PEC performance provides a reference for accelerating the charge separation for other photoelectrodes.

已经提出了一种涉及 CoO _x催化剂吸附和酸处理的策略，用于改变掺杂 Zr 的赤铁矿纳米珊瑚 (NC) 光阳极的表面性质。酸处理的 Zr-Fe ₂ O ₃ NCs 表现出降低的电极/电解质界面电阻和提高的表面电荷注入效率。X 射线光电子能谱数据证实了在酸处理的 Zr-Fe ₂ O ₃ NC 表面上羟基数量增加和 Fe ²⁺位点的形成，表明表面改性。此外，在用 1 mM Co(OAc) ₂溶液进行表面修正后，CoO _x封装的酸处理 Zr-Fe ₂与裸 Zr-Fe ₂ O ₃ NC相比，O ₃ NC 光阳极在 1.23 V vs. RHE 下表现出 1.83 mA/cm ²的光电流密度，在光电流起始点发生 200 mV 阴极位移之后。实验结果表明酸处理和CoO _x吸附对降低表面态和提高光电化学水氧化性能的有效性。CoO _x封装的酸处理 Zr-Fe ₂ O ₃ NC 中的酸处理步骤提供了 CoO _x催化剂吸附键，并允许电荷转移过程的动力学。这种酸处理和 CoO _{x 的}协同策略 吸附以提高 PEC 性能为加速其他光电极的电荷分离提供了参考。