Ag-Functionalized CuWO4/WO3 nanocomposites for solar water splitting

Ag-Functionalized CuWO4/WO3 heterostructures were successfully prepared via a polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)-assisted sol–gel (PSG) route. Thin films prepared via electrophoretic deposition were used as photoanodes for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Compared to pristine CuWO4 and WO3 films...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNew journal of chemistry Vol. 43; no. 5; pp. 2196 - 2203
Main Authors Salimi, R, Sabbagh Alvani, A A, Mei, B T, Naseri, N, Du, S F, Mul, G
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 2019
Subjects
Chemical evolution
Electrophoretic deposition
Energy conversion
Heterostructures
Light
Nanocomposites
Photoelectric effect
Photoelectric emission
Silver chloride
Sol-gel processes
Thin films
Tungsten oxides
Water splitting
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Summary:Ag-Functionalized CuWO4/WO3 heterostructures were successfully prepared via a polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)-assisted sol–gel (PSG) route. Thin films prepared via electrophoretic deposition were used as photoanodes for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Compared to pristine CuWO4 and WO3 films, a significant enhancement of the photocurrent (3–4 times) at the thermodynamic potential for oxygen evolution (0.62 V vs. Ag/AgCl, pH 7) was obtained for the Ag-functionalized CuWO4/WO3 photoanodes. The obtained enhancement is shown to be derived from a synergic contribution of heterostructure formation (CuWO4/WO3) and improvements of light utilization by Ag-induced surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effects. Accordingly, a photocurrent of 0.205 mA cm−2 at 0.62 V vs. Ag/AgCl under neutral conditions (without hole scavengers) under front-side simulated AM1.5G illumination was achieved. A detailed analysis of the obtained PEC data alongside performed impedance measurements suggests that charge seperation is significantly improved for the prepared Ag-functionalized CuWO4/WO3 photoanodes. Our work offers beneficial insights to design new plasmonic metal/heterostructured nanocomposites for energy conversion applications.
ISSN:1144-0546
1369-9261
DOI:10.1039/c8nj05625k