Unraveling of cocatalysts photodeposited selectively on facets of BiVO4 to boost solar water splitting

Abstract Bismuth vanadate (BiVO 4 ) has been widely investigated as a photocatalyst or photoanode for solar water splitting, but its activity is hindered by inefficient cocatalysts and limited understanding of the underlying mechanism. Here we demonstrate significantly enhanced water oxidation on the particulate BiVO 4 photocatalyst via in situ facet-selective photodeposition of dual-cocatalysts that exist separately as metallic Ir nanoparticles and nanocomposite of FeOOH and CoOOH (denoted as FeCoO x ), as revealed by advanced techniques. The mechanism of water oxidation promoted by the dual-cocatalysts is experimentally and theoretically unraveled, and mainly ascribed to the synergistic effect of the…

• SS
  Salt Science Research Foundation

  Award: BL14W1
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 2017YFA0204904, 21633009, 21902156, 21925206
• UO
  University of Science and Technology of China
• DI
  Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics

  Awards: I201927, DICP I201927
• BS
  Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility

  Award: BL14W1
• DS
  Dalian Science and Technology Innovation Fund

  Award: 2020JJ26GX032