Efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation using a TiO(2) nanosphere-decorated BiVO(4) heterojunction photoanode

Constructing heterojunctions by coupling dissimilar semiconductors is a promising approach to boost charge separation and charge transfer in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. In this work, we fabricated a highly efficient TiO(2)/BiVO(4) heterojunction photoanode for PEC water oxidation via a simple hydrothermal method. The resulting heterojunction photoanodes show enhanced PEC performance compared to the bare BiVO(4) due to the simultaneous improvements in charge separation and charge transfer. Under simulated sunlight illumination (AM 1.5G, 100 mW cm(−2)), a high photocurrent of 3.3 mA cm(−2) was obtained at 1.23 V (vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)) in a neutral solution, which exceeds those attained by the previously reported TiO(2)/BiVO(4) heterojunctions. When a molecular Co–cubane catalyst was immobilized onto the electrode, the performance of the TiO(2)/BiVO(4) heterojunction photoanode can be further improved, achieving a higher photocurrent density of 4.6 mA cm(−2) at 1.23 V, an almost three-fold enhancement over that of the bare BiVO(4). These results engender a promising route to designing an efficient photoelectrode for PEC water splitting.