Substantially enhanced front illumination photocurrent in porous SnO<sub>2</sub> nanorods/networked BiVO<sub>4</sub> heterojunction photoanodes

Bhat, Swetha S. M.; Suh, Jun Min; Choi, Seokhoon; Hong, Seungpyo; Lee, Sol A; Kim, Chang‐Yeon; Moon, Cheon Woo; Lee, Mi Gyoung; Jang, Ho Won

doi:10.1039/c8ta03858a

Cited by 31 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…However,t here still remains the key issue that carrier transport inside the BiVO 4 photoelectrode is too sluggish, making the water splitting performance quite low when light was illuminated from the ESI side. [18][19][20][21][22] Our previous work unveiled that the poor performance is mainly due to the slow,t rap-limited electron transport by investigating the performance difference between the light illumination from the ESI side and from the FTO side. [22] Recent advances disclosed that the poor majority carrier transport of BiVO 4 is caused by the formation of electron small polarons.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Freeing the Polarons to Facilitate Charge Transport in BiVO₄ from Oxygen Vacancies with an Oxidative 2D Precursor

Qiu

Xiao

et al. 2019

Angew Chem Int Ed

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The BiVO4 photoelectrochemical (PEC) electrode in tandem with a photovoltaic (PV) cell has shown great potential to become a compact and cost‐efficient device for solar hydrogen generation. However, the PEC part is still facing problems such as the poor charge transport efficiency owing to the drag of oxygen vacancy bound polarons. In the present work, to effectively suppress oxygen vacancy formation, a new route has been developed to synthesize BiVO4 photoanodes by using a highly oxidative two‐dimensional (2D) precursor, bismuth oxyiodate (BiOIO3), as an internal oxidant. With the reduced defects, namely the oxygen vacancies, the bound polarons were released, enabling a fast charge transport inside BiVO4 and doubling the performance in tandem devices based on the oxygen vacancy eliminated BiVO4. This work is a new avenue for elaborately designing the precursor and breaking the limitation of charge transport for highly efficient PEC‐PV solar fuel devices.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Freeing the Polarons to Facilitate Charge Transport in BiVO₄ from Oxygen Vacancies with an Oxidative 2D Precursor

Qiu

Xiao

et al. 2019

Angew Chem Int Ed

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“…SnO 2 thin films were found to be a hole blocking layer for BiVO 4 [26] . Nanorods of SnO 2 have also been used to improve the performance of BiVO 4, especially under front illumination [27][28][29]. Double heterojunction of BiVO 4 with SnO 2 and WO 3 has been fabricated to achieve an unassisted water splitting reaction [30].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Triple Planar Heterojunction of SnO2/WO3/BiVO4 with Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance under Front Illumination

et al. 2018

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The performance of a BiVO4 photoanode is limited by poor charge transport, especially under front side illumination. Heterojunction of different metal oxides with staggered band configuration is a promising route, as it facilitates charge separation/transport and thereby improves photoactivity. We report a ternary planar heterojunction photoanode with enhanced photoactivity under front side illumination. SnO2/WO3/BiVO4 films were fabricated through electron beam deposition and subsequent wet chemical method. Remarkably high external quantum efficiency of ~80% during back side and ~90% upon front side illumination at a wavelength of 400 nm has been witnessed for SnO2/WO3/BiVO4 at 1.23 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). The intimate contact between the heterojunction films enabled efficient charge separation at the interface and promoted electron transport. This work provides a new paradigm for designing triple heterojunction to improve photoactivity, particularly under front illumination, which would be beneficial for the development of tandem devices.

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“…Semiconductors with staggered band alignments can be coupled to fabricate the heterojunction, which can improve the solar water oxidation of the photoelectrode due to the increased charge carrier separation [7][8][9][10][11]. Nano structural modification with high surface area is beneficial to further improve the photocurrent density of the heterojunctions [12,13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of C3N4 Precursors on Photoelectrochemical Behavior of TiO2/C3N4 Photoanode for Solar Water Oxidation

et al. 2020

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Photoelectrochemical water splitting is considered as a long-term solution for the ever-increasing energy demands. Various strategies have been employed to improve the traditional TiO2 photoanode. In this study, TiO2 nanorods were decorated by graphitic carbon nitride (C3N4) derived from different precursors such as thiourea, melamine, and a mixture of thiourea and melamine. Photoelectrochemical activity of TiO2/C3N4 photoanode can be modified by tuning the number of precursors used to synthesize C3N4. C3N4 derived from the mixture of melamine and thiourea in TiO2/C3N4 photoanode showed photocurrent density as high as 2.74 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE. C3N4 synthesized by thiourea showed particle-like morphology, while melamine and melamine with thiourea derived C3N4 yielded two dimensional (2D) nanosheets. Nanosheet-like C3N4 showed higher photoelectrochemical performance than that of particle-like nanostructures as specific surface area, and the redox ability of nanosheets are believed to be superior to particle-like nanostructures. TiO2/C3N4 displayed excellent photostability up to 20 h under continuous illumination. Thiourea plays an important role in enhancing the photoelectrochemical performance of TiO2/C3N4. This study emphasizes the fact that the improved photoelectrochemical performance can be achieved by varying the precursors of C3N4 in TiO2/C3N4 heterojunction. This is the first report to show the influence of C3N4 precursors on photoelectrochemical performance in TiO2/C3N4 systems. This would pave the way to explore different precursors influence on C3N4 with respect to the photoelectrochemical response of TiO2/C3N4 heterojunction photoanode.

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Substantially enhanced front illumination photocurrent in porous SnO₂ nanorods/networked BiVO₄ heterojunction photoanodes

Abstract: The porous SnO2 nanorods/networked BiVO4 heterojunction is identified as apromising photoanode which exhibits high photocurrent under front illumination.The interplay of porous SnO2 NRs and optimum coverage of BiVO4 lead to high PEC performance.

Cited by 31 publications

References 44 publications

Freeing the Polarons to Facilitate Charge Transport in BiVO₄ from Oxygen Vacancies with an Oxidative 2D Precursor

Freeing the Polarons to Facilitate Charge Transport in BiVO₄ from Oxygen Vacancies with an Oxidative 2D Precursor

Triple Planar Heterojunction of SnO2/WO3/BiVO4 with Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance under Front Illumination

Influence of C3N4 Precursors on Photoelectrochemical Behavior of TiO2/C3N4 Photoanode for Solar Water Oxidation

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Substantially enhanced front illumination photocurrent in porous SnO2 nanorods/networked BiVO4 heterojunction photoanodes

Abstract: The porous SnO2 nanorods/networked BiVO4 heterojunction is identified as apromising photoanode which exhibits high photocurrent under front illumination.The interplay of porous SnO2 NRs and optimum coverage of BiVO4 lead to high PEC performance.

Cited by 31 publications

References 44 publications

Freeing the Polarons to Facilitate Charge Transport in BiVO4 from Oxygen Vacancies with an Oxidative 2D Precursor

Freeing the Polarons to Facilitate Charge Transport in BiVO4 from Oxygen Vacancies with an Oxidative 2D Precursor

Triple Planar Heterojunction of SnO2/WO3/BiVO4 with Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance under Front Illumination

Influence of C3N4 Precursors on Photoelectrochemical Behavior of TiO2/C3N4 Photoanode for Solar Water Oxidation

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Substantially enhanced front illumination photocurrent in porous SnO₂ nanorods/networked BiVO₄ heterojunction photoanodes

Freeing the Polarons to Facilitate Charge Transport in BiVO₄ from Oxygen Vacancies with an Oxidative 2D Precursor

Freeing the Polarons to Facilitate Charge Transport in BiVO₄ from Oxygen Vacancies with an Oxidative 2D Precursor