Exploration of Photo and Electrochemical Studies with an Efficient Electrocatalyst on Fluorinated BiVO_4 Photoelectrode for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

摘要

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting to produce clean hydrogen provides a desirable approach to solve the global environmental and energy problems. Bismuth vanadate (BiVO_4) has emerged as one of the most promising photoanode materials for oxidizing water due to its visiblelight activity and low cost. However, BiVO_4 photocatalyst has suffered by the slow charge separation kinetics at solid/electrode interface that limits the photoelectrochemical performance. In order to minimize the poor properties, we modified the BiVO_4 with an effective electrocatalysts, which was investigated experimentally under light illumination. The subsequent addition of electrocatalysts as an effective oxygen evolution catalyst subsequently reduces the large overpotential and generates the higher photocurrent. The charge transfer properties of the photoelectrodes can be effectively tuned by controlling the electrocatalysts loaded, thereby optimizing PEC performance. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) evidenced that the deposition of electrocatalysts can substantially lower the charge transfer resistance at the semiconductor interface. Furthermore, the advantages and drawbacks of catalyst deposition routesand the role of photoelectrochemical and advanced spectroscopic techniques for elucidation of the mechanism of the photo catalytic action will be discussed in detail.