Mechanochemically synthesized CuO/m-BiVO₄ composite with enhanced photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic properties

Abstract

Simultaneous enhancement on photon absorption and charge separation leads to improved photo-activities of a CuO/BiVO4 composite over pristine BiVO4.

Nanoscale Heterogeneities and Composition–Reactivity Relationships in Copper Vanadate Photoanodes

“…Since the CuO regions preferentially form along grain boundaries (Figure a), these p-type regions are electrically connected to the underlying substrate via the conductive grain boundaries, thereby facilitating cathodic photocurrents. These findings are in agreement with previous reports on BiVO 4 photoelectrodes, which showed large cathodic photocurrents at low potentials in the presence of CuO on the surface. , Furthermore, the formation of CuO on the surface can lead to increased dark currents, as observed for BiVO 4 /CuO and in this study (Figure ), due to the electrocatalytic activity of CuO . Thus, the formation of CuO on the surface also explains the increased anodic dark currents observed for Cu-rich films (Figure ).…”

“…These findings are in agreement with previous reports on BiVO 4 photoelectrodes, which showed large cathodic photocurrents at low potentials in the presence of CuO on the surface. 29,30 Furthermore, the formation of CuO on the surface can lead to increased dark currents, as observed for BiVO 4 /CuO and in this study (Figure 2), due to the electrocatalytic activity of CuO. 29 Thus, the formation of CuO on the surface also explains the increased anodic dark currents observed for Cu-rich films (Figure 2).…”

Properties and applications of polysilanes

“…For example, recently, helical polysilanes that were wrapped onto carbon nanotubes via surface oxidation resulted in low infrared emissivity of the composite material generated. [106] Promising results were also observed when the conditions were optimized to efficiently generate circularly polarized light using aggregates of helical polysilane suspended in optofluids. [107] 6 | CONCLUSIONS This review discusses the properties and applications of polysilanes that have been researched over the years.…”

A triptych photocatalyst based on the Co-Integration of Ag nanoparticles and carbo-benzene dye into a TiO2 thin film

“…Inorganic semiconductors based on transition-metal oxides, oxysulfides or oxynitrides with lower bandgap as compared to TiO 2 can also be used to increase the absorption of visible-light [10][11][12]. Finally, the formation of heterojunctions with other semiconductors (Bi 2 WO 6 , m-BiVO 4 , TaON, Bi 2 O 3 , Ag 2 O, Ag 3 VO 4 …) [46][47][48][49][50][51] has been proposed to induce beneficial charge separation and electronic properties in the stack.…”