Can we judge an oxide by its cover? the case of platinum over α-Fe₂O₃ from first principles

Metal/metal-oxide interfaces appear in a wide variety of disciplines including electronics, corrosion, electrochemistry, and catalysis. Specifically, covering a metal-oxide with a metal is often thought to enhance solar energy absorption and to improve photocatalytic activity. For example, the platinum/hematite (Pt/α-Fe₂O₃) interface has demonstrated improved functionality. In order to advance our understanding of how metal coverage over an oxide helps performance, we characterize the geometry and electronic structure of the Pt/α-Fe₂O₃ interface. We investigate the interface using density functional theory +U, and find a stable crystallographic orientation relationship: Fe₂O₃(0001)[1100]∥Pt(111)[101] that agrees with experiment. Furthermore, there are significant changes in the electronic structure of α-Fe₂O₃ as a result of Pt coverage. We therefore suggest the concept of "judging" the electronic properties of an oxide only with its cover. Specifically, covering Fe₂O₃ with Pt reduces carrier effective mass and creates a continuum of states in the band gap. The former could be beneficial for catalytic activity, while the latter may cause surface recombination. In order to circumvent this problem, we suggest putting metal coverage behind the oxide and far from the electrolyte in a photoelectrochemical device in order to quickly collect electron carriers and avoid recombination with vulnerable holes accumulating as a result of catalysis at the surface.