Volume 11, Issue 15 p. 2510-2516
Full Paper

Bismuth Vanadate with Electrostatically Anchored 3D Carbon Nitride Nano-networks as Efficient Photoanodes for Water Oxidation

Peng Luan

Peng Luan

School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800 Australia

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Ying Zhang

Ying Zhang

School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800 Australia

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Xiaolong Zhang

Xiaolong Zhang

School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800 Australia

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Dr. Zhijun Li

Dr. Zhijun Li

Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, 150080 P. R. China

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Ragesh Prathapan

Ragesh Prathapan

School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800 Australia

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Prof. Udo Bach

Prof. Udo Bach

Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800 Australia

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Dr. Jie Zhang

Corresponding Author

Dr. Jie Zhang

School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800 Australia

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First published: 19 June 2018
Citations: 24

Graphical Abstract

Electrostatically anchored: When decorated with FeOOH/NiOOH, bismuth vanadate with electrostatically anchored three-dimensional C3N4 nano-networks is a highly efficient photoanode for solar water oxidation. This superior performance originates from the enhanced charge separation, increased electrode–electrolyte interfacial area, and improved surface reaction kinetics. This work provides a new pathway for designing and fabricating efficient nanojunction-based photoanodes for solar water oxidation.

Abstract

In this study, we report a photoanode consisting of a polymeric/inorganic nanojunction between novel nanostructured 3D C3N4 nano-networks and BiVO4 substrate. This nanojunction is formed such that 3D C3N4 nano-networks with a positively charged surface are efficiently anchored on the BiVO4 photoanode with a negatively charged surface. This electrostatic self-assembly can initiate and contribute to an intimate contact at the interfaces, leading to an enhanced photoelectrochemical activity and stability compared with that fabricated by non-electrostatic assembly. The C3N4 nano-network/BiVO4 photoanode achieved a remarkable photocurrent density of 4.87 mA cm−2 for water oxidation at 1.23 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode) after depositing FeOOH/NiOOH as oxygen-evolution co-catalyst, which is among the highest photocurrent densities reported so far for BiVO4-based photoanodes.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.