An electrochemical deposition route for obtaining α-Fe ₂O₃ thin films

Electrochemical deposition of hematite (α- Fe2 O3) thin films was investigated on SnO2: F covered glass substrates. A new electrochemical method to obtain hematite thin films through a potential cycling procedure in an aqueous solution of Fe(III)+KF+ H2 O2 at room temperature is presented. The electrodeposited iron oxide thin films submitted to an annealing treatment showed a good quality and crystallinity. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the presence of the rhombohedrally centered hexagonal structure: α- Fe2 O3, hematite, as the sole crystalline phase. A bandgap energy of ca. 2.0 eV was measured for these films.