Water splitting using photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell is a potential and long term approach for the hydrogen generation to deal with global energy requirement. This system needs to improve water splitting efficiency by enhancing the overall water oxidation reaction (oxygen evolution reaction, OER) at the photoanode due to high electrons-holes recombination and kinetic barriers. In order to develop economical and efficient photo-catalysts for water oxidation, n-type monoclinic BiVO4 has been widely reported because of efficient visible light absorption ≥ 520 nm demonstrating direct band gap (Eg ∼ 2.4-2.5 eV), suitable band position for OER and demonstrate high photocurrent density (PCD) at low bias. However, pristine BiVO4 shows low photo conversion efficiency due to poor charge transport, high surface charge recombination and sluggish water oxidation kinetics. In current report, BiVO4 photocatalyst formed double heterojunction with WO3 and Bi2S3. The WO3/BiVO4/Bi2S3 photoanode further decorated with surface catalyst Fe:NiO and Co-Pi, fabricated photoanode has shown highest PEC photo current 5.8 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V RHE and 7.6 mA/cm2 at 2 V RHE under simulated one sunlight illumination in K2HPO4 electrolyte. Increase in the photocatalytic activity can be attributed due to expanded light absorption of WO3 (≥ 440 nm) & Bi2S3 (≥ 800 nm) suppressing the charge recombination by forming band bending at the WO3/ BiVO4 and BiVO4 and Bi2S3 interface which lead to fast charge transfer. Further, WO3/BiVO4/Bi2S3/Fe:NiO/Co-Pi photoanode were investigated by XRD, XPS and SEM. The electrochemical impedance and cyclic voltammetry measurements showed that the Yb doping lowered the interfacial resistance, charge transfer resistance and increased the charge donor/surface state density.

Extended light absorption management by forming dual heterojunction in monoclinic BiVO4 for enhanced photoelectrochemical water oxidation

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.