Metal oxide nanostructures have been extensively studied as photoanodes for solar hydrogen generation. However, the poor electrical conductivity of pristine metal oxide nanostructures is one of the major factors that limiting their photoactivity. We have recently demonstrated a general strategy to increase the electrical conductivity of metal oxides by controlled introduction of oxygen vacancies into their structures. The oxygen vacancies serve as shallow donors that can considerably increase the electron density of metal oxides.  These oxygen-deficient metal oxides showed signi?cantly enhanced performance for solar hydrogen generation compared to their pristine structures. The enhanced photoelectrochemical performance of oxygen-deficient metal oxides was attributed to the improved charge separation and reduced charge transfer resistance, as a result of increase electron density. This talk will highlight the latest results of studies directed at developing oxygen-de?cient metal oxides, including TiO2, WO3, a-Fe2O3 and BiVO4 nanostructured photoanodes for solar water splitting. The potentials of this new class of photoanodes for other energy conversion applications, such as photocatalytic reactions and microbial electrolysis reactions will also be discussed.

Oxygen-deficient metal oxide nanostructured electrodes for solar hydrogen generation

248th National Meeting (2014)

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