Black phosphorene as a hole extraction layer boosting solar water splitting of oxygen evolution catalysts

Abstract

As the development of oxygen evolution co-catalysts (OECs) is being actively undertaken, the tailored integration of those OECs with photoanodes is expected to be a plausible avenue for achieving highly efficient solar-assisted water splitting. Here, we demonstrate that a black phosphorene (BP) layer, inserted between the OEC and BiVO 4 can improve the photoelectrochemical performance of pre-optimized OEC/BiVO 4 (OEC: NiOOH, MnO x, and CoOOH) systems by 1.2∼1.6-fold, while the OEC overlayer, in turn, can suppress BP self-oxidation to achieve a high durability. A photocurrent density of 4.48 mA·cm −2 at 1.23 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) is achieved by the NiOOH/BP/BiVO 4 photoanode. It is found that the intrinsic p -type BP can boost hole extraction from BiVO 4 and prolong holes trapping lifetime on BiVO 4 surface. This work sheds light on the design of BP-based devices for application in solar to fuel conversion, and also suggests a promising nexus between semiconductor and electrocatalyst.

Acceptor‐Doping Accelerated Charge Separation in Cu2O Photocathode for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: Theoretical and Experimental Studies

“…Ni‐Cu 2 O shows a higher electron lifetime (0.108 s) than that of Cu 2 O (0.074 s), demonstrating an enhanced charge separation and electron mobility. Mott‐Schottky (M‐S) measurements were conducted to obtain the carrier concentrations and flat band potentials ( E fb ) of samples (Figure a and b) . Both Cu 2 O and Ni‐Cu 2 O display a negative slope in M‐S plots, which confirms their p‐type semiconductor feature .…”

2D V‐V Binary Materials: Status and Challenges

“…Subsequently, the cousins of black phosphorene, which are arsenene, antimonene, and bismuthene, have been successfully fabricated and become the important new members of 2D family . These 2D group‐VA materials possess different allotropes with fascinating properties, thus making them suitable for a broad range of applications, including electronics, optoelectronics, topological spintronics, bio‐applications, and energy devices …”

Progress on Phosphorene for Photocatalytic Water Splitting

“…8 Schematic diagram of Z-scheme photocatalytic water splitting system using BP/BiVO 4 under visible light irradiation [45] 下可观察到纯水分解产生氢气和氧气。BP [46] Fig. 9 (a) Electron spin resonance spectra of •O 2 − radicals over BP/CN hybrid with visible-light irradiation, and (b) timedependent degradation of nitroblue tetrazolium solution to detect •O 2 − evolution over BP/CN hybrid under visible-light irradiation [46] [47][48] 。 再次, 深入了解构效关系和光催化反应机理。通过 模拟计算和原位表征方法, 在分子水平上理解光催 化 反 应 的 机 理 以 及 催 化 剂 结 构 与 性 能 之 间 的 关 系 [49][50] , 从而对新型磷烯基光催化剂的设计和制备 提供理论指导, 促进磷烯材料的发展。 最后, 增强磷 烯材料在光催化反应中的稳定性。磷烯的氧化是由 O 2 与磷烯表面的孤对电子发生反应引起的, 导致磷 氧化物的生成。寻找合适有效的方法来增强磷烯在 光 催 化 反 应 中 的 长 期 稳 定 性 仍 是 一 项 巨 大 的 挑 战 [51][52] 。磷烯基异质结材料在光(电)催化领域将具 有广阔的应用前景, 有望促进二维纳米材料在能源 转换中的开发和应用 [53][54][55] 。 参考文献:…”