Metal Doping of BiVO4 by Composite Electrodeposition with Improved Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation

• Published in: Journal of physical chemistry. C Vol. 117; no. 44; pp. 23048 - 23056
• Main Authors: Cho, Sung Ki, Park, Hyun S, Lee, Heung Chan, Nam, Ki Min, Bard, Allen J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Columbus, OH American Chemical Society 07.11.2013
• Subjects: Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Electrodeposition, electroplating; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Methods of deposition of films and coatings; film growth and epitaxy; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Other topics in nanoscale materials and structures; Physics; Optical fibers; Doping; Tungsten additions; Metal addition; Thin films; Nanoparticles; Composite materials; Vanadates; Bismuth; Plating; Electrodeposition; Oxidation; Nanostructured materials; Photoelectrode; Cathodes
• ISSN: 1932-7447; 1932-7455
• DOI: 10.1021/jp408619u

We report that oxide composite electrodeposition can be used for the facile preparation of metal-doped BiVO4 photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical water oxidation. The photoactivity of electrodeposition film was improved by the addition of a small amount of tungstic acid particles during the electrodeposition. These particles are incorporated in the deposit and finally generate tungsten-doped bismuth vanadate. The suspended particles in the plating solution were electrostatically attracted to the cathode and accordingly incorporated into the deposit (electrostatic deposition). WO3 nanoparticles (NPs) can be used instead of tungstic acid, to yield a BiVO4 with different properties. Enhanced photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation was confirmed via scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) by detecting increased oxygen evolution with using optical fiber incorporating a ring electrode.