Multi-layer monoclinic BiVO^sub 4^ with oxygen vacancies and V^sup 4+^ species for highly efficient visible-light photoelectrochemical applications

The utilization of solar energy into photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a popular approach to store the sustainable energy and minimize the dependence of fossil fuels. Herein, multi-layer BiVO4 films were synthesized by multi-cycle electrodeposition following by annealing at high temperat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inApplied catalysis. B, Environmental Vol. 221; p. 187
Main Authors Wu, Jin-Meng, Chen, Ying, Pan, Lun, Wang, Peihong, Cui, Ya, Kong, DeChao, Wang, Li, Zhang, Xiangwen, Zou, Ji-Jun
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Amsterdam Elsevier BV 01.02.2018
Subjects
Band structure
Band structure of solids
Bulk density
Catalytic oxidation
Construction methods
Electrodes
Energy conservation
Energy consumption
Fossil fuels
High temperature
Hydrogen sulfide
Irradiation
Lattice vacancies
Morphology
Oxidation
Oxygen
Photoelectric effect
Photoelectric emission
Renewable energy
Scheelite
Solar energy
Species
Splitting
Sulfite
Sustainability
Water splitting
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Summary:The utilization of solar energy into photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a popular approach to store the sustainable energy and minimize the dependence of fossil fuels. Herein, multi-layer BiVO4 films were synthesized by multi-cycle electrodeposition following by annealing at high temperature. Multi-layer BiVO4 films have monoclinic scheelite structure, and the morphology is changed from densely compact film to sponge-like network, and then bulk structure with the increase of electro-deposited layers. X-ray photoelectron spectra indicate the presence of abundant oxygen vacancies and V4+ species in multi-layer BiVO4, especially for 3-layer one. For visible-light PEC performance, 3-layer BiVO4 shows the highest photocurrent among the samples, i.e. up to 5.80 mA/cm2 in sulfite oxidation and 1.79 mA/cm2 in water splitting at 1.23 V versus a reverse hydrogen electrode (RHE) under 1 sun irradiation (100 mW/cm2), with very high IPCE achieved nearly 83% and 25% (at 420 nm), respectively. The extremely high PEC performance of 3-layer BiVO4 is attributed to its morphology of sponge-like network and the modulated band structure by the oxygen vacancies and V4+ species. Moreover, the multi-layer BiVO4 also shows very high photostability. This work provides a multi-layer-construction method for highly visible-light-active PEC anodes for practical applications.
ISSN:0926-3373
1873-3883