A self-adaptive semiconductor-liquid junction for highly active and stable solar water splitting

Huanhuan Sun, Wei Hua, Shiyu Liang, Yueying Li, Jian Gan Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Constructing a semiconductor-liquid junction (SCLJ) with efficient charge transfer and excellent anti-photocorrosion is crucial yet challenging for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation. Herein, we propose an effective surface reconstruction strategy to create a self-adaptive SCLJ for significantly enhancing the PEC activity and stability of BiVO4 photoanodes. It is revealed that a low-valence metal oxide (e.g., NiFeOx) serrated cocatalyst could be in situ transformed into a uniform and seamless oxygen-vacancy-rich metal (oxy)hydroxide nanolayer during the initial PEC test cycles. Such an intriguing reconstruction creates a self-adaptive SCLJ to promote hole trapping/migration at the semiconductor/cocatalyst junction and improve the water oxidation kinetics as well as photocorrosion resistance at the electrode/electrolyte interface. Remarkably, the self-adaptive SCLJ enables BiVO4 to show an impressive photocurrent density of 5.1 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE and superior working durability over 30 h. This study provides a fundamental insight on designing a self-adaptive SCLJ for highly efficient PEC water electrolysis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)20414-20423
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry A
Volume10
Issue number38
DOIs
StatePublished - 19 Aug 2022

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