Bipyridine-CO~(2+) molecular catalyst modified WO_3 nanoplate arrays photoanode with enhanced photoelectrochemical activity

摘要

Here we report for the first time that bpy-Co2+ complex (bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine) can be used as an efficient molecular co-catalyst to significantly enhance photoelectrochemical (PEC) activity of WO3 nanoplate arrays photoanode. As a result, bpy-Co2+ complex modified WO3 nanoplate arrays photoanode achieved a considerable photocurrent density (2.88 mA cm(-2)) at 1.5 V versus a reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), which is 1.7 and 1.4-times larger than that obtained by WO3 photoanode without any modification (1.61 mA cm(-2)) and cobalt phosphate (Co-Pi) modified WO3 photoanode (2.01 mA cm(-2)) in Na2SO4 electrolyte, respectively. The present work provides a new strategy for designing highly efficient PEC water splitting device. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.