Research Update: Strategies for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting using metal oxide photoanodes

Cho, Seungho; Jang, Ji‐Wook; Lee, Kun‐Hong; Lee, Jae Sung

doi:10.1063/1.4861798

Cited by 124 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 140 publications

(160 reference statements)

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“…2 Since then, there has been a lot of research to find suitable electrode materials in order to use a broader range of the solar spectrum. [1][2][3] Hematite (α-Fe 2 O 3 ) is investigated as a photoanode for water splitting because of its high stability in water, low cost, abundance and its band gap enabling the absorption of visible light (Eg between 1.9 eV and 2.2 eV depending on the synthesis method). 4 However, the position of its conduction band does not enable the direct reduction of water 5 and an additional voltage bias has to be applied, possibly provided by a coupled photovoltaic system.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combining Mesoporosity and Ti-Doping in Hematite Films for Water Splitting

et al. 2015

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In this study, we report the synthesis of Ti-doped mesoporous hematite films by soft-templating for application as photoanodes in the photoelectrolysis of water (water splitting). Because the activation of the dopant requires a heat treatment at high temperature (≥ 800°C), it usually results in the collapse of the mesostructure. We have overcome this obstacle by using a temporary SiO 2 scaffold to hinder crystallite growth and thereby maintain the mesoporosity. The beneficial effect of the activated dopant has been confirmed by comparing the photocurrent of doped and undoped films treated at different temperatures. The role of the mesostructure was investigated by comparing dense, collapsed and mesoporous films heated at different temperatures and characterized under front and back illumination. It turns out that the preservation of the mesotructure enables a better penetration of the electrolyte into the film and therefore, reduces the distance that the photogenerated holes have to travel to reach the electrolyte. As a result, we found that mesoporous films with dopant activation at 850°C perform better than comparable dense and collapsed films.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combining Mesoporosity and Ti-Doping in Hematite Films for Water Splitting

et al. 2015

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“…In fact, it has been estimated that 135 ppm of vanadium and 0.17 ppm of bismuth are present in the earth's continental crust [30]. In general, like most metal oxides, it is also known to be stable against chemical corrosion [31,32].…”

Section: Advantages Of Bivo 4 As a Photoanodementioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Advances in the BiVO4 Photocatalyst for Sun-Driven Water Oxidation: Top-Performing Photoanodes and Scale-Up Challenges

2017

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Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting, which is a type of artificial photosynthesis, is a sustainable way of converting solar energy into chemical energy. The water oxidation half-reaction has always represented the bottleneck of this process because of the thermodynamic and kinetic challenges that are involved. Several materials have been explored and studied to address the issues pertaining to solar water oxidation. Significant advances have recently been made in the use of stable and relatively cheap metal oxides, i.e., semiconducting photocatalysts. The use of BiVO 4 for this purpose can be considered advantageous because this catalyst is able to absorb a substantial portion of the solar spectrum and has favourable conduction and valence band edge positions. However, BiVO 4 is also associated with poor electron mobility and slow water oxidation kinetics and these are the problems that are currently being investigated in the ongoing research in this field. This review focuses on the most recent advances in the best-performing BiVO 4 -based photoanodes to date. It summarizes the critical parameters that contribute to the performance of these photoanodes, and highlights so far unresolved critical features related to the scale-up of a BiVO 4 -based PEC water-splitting device.

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“…[1][2][3][4][5] This is particularly relevant in the case of semiconductor materials for solar applications, [6][7][8][9][10] where the capability of the semiconductor to use effectively solar light depends on combination of a series of properties. 2 Thus, the efforts devoted to the accurate theoretical and experimental characterization of a large variety of semiconductor materials aimed to elucidate fundamental properties, such as band gap, optical absorption coefficient, dielectric constant, and charge carrier effective masses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of the electronic, dielectric, and optical properties of sillenite Bi12TiO20 and perovskite-like Bi4Ti3O12 materials from hybrid first-principle calculations

Lardhi

Noureldine

Harb

et al. 2016

The Journal of Chemical Physics

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Density functional theory calculation was conducted to determine the optoelectronic properties of bismuth titanate sillenite (Bi12TiO20) and perovskite-like (Bi4Ti3O12) structures. The lattice parameters were experimentally obtained from Rietveld analysis. The density functional perturbation theory approach was used with the standard Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof functional and screened Coulomb hybrid Heyd–Scuseria–Ernzerhof functional to investigate the electronic structure and absorption coefficient. Both compounds have good carrier transport properties, low effective hole and electron masses, high dielectric constant, and low exciton binding energy.

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Research Update: Strategies for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting using metal oxide photoanodes

Cited by 124 publications

References 140 publications

Combining Mesoporosity and Ti-Doping in Hematite Films for Water Splitting

Combining Mesoporosity and Ti-Doping in Hematite Films for Water Splitting

Recent Advances in the BiVO4 Photocatalyst for Sun-Driven Water Oxidation: Top-Performing Photoanodes and Scale-Up Challenges

Determination of the electronic, dielectric, and optical properties of sillenite Bi12TiO20 and perovskite-like Bi4Ti3O12 materials from hybrid first-principle calculations

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