Vastly Enhanced BiVO4 Photocatalytic OER Performance by NiCoO2 as Cocatalyst

Thangavelu Palaniselvam, Le Shi, Gangaiah Mettela, Dalaver H. Anjum, Renyuan Li, Krishna Katuri, Pascal Saikaly, Peng Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

105 Scopus citations

Abstract

Here, a simple and efficient preparation of NiCoO nanoparticle modified nanoporous bismuth vanadate (BiVO) thin film and its application in photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is demonstrated. The role of NiCoO in the composite electrode (BiVO/NiCoO) is twofold: OER cocatalyst and band structure modifier. It improves surface reaction kinetics for PEC OER and enhances charge separation efficiency simultaneously, which is believed to be a determining factor for the unprecedentedly high PEC OER performance of this BiVO/NiCoO nanocomposite. The photocurrent density of 3.6 mA cm at 1.23 V versus RHE in 0.1 m potassium phosphate buffered (pH = 7) electrolyte by BiVO/NiCoO is three times that of BiVO and significantly higher than most literature values. The BiVO/NiCoO nanocomposite shows/possess a high charge separation efficiency (η) of ≈72% as compared to only 23% for pure nanoporous BiVO at 1.23 V versus RHE, which demonstrates convincing role of NiCoO in the composite electrode. Both the excellent photocurrent density and great operational stability of this BiVO/NiCoO nanocomposite makes it a promising photocatalytic material for practical applications.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1700540
JournalAdvanced Materials Interfaces
Volume4
Issue number19
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 7 2017

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01
Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) center competitive fund (CCF) fund awarded to Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC). The authors are grateful to the other members of the KAUST Environmental Nanotechnology group for the helpful discussions.

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