title: Nanostructured WO₃/BiVO₄ heterojunction films for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting.
abstract: We report on a novel heterojunction WO(3)/BiVO(4) photoanode for photoelectrochemical water splitting. The heterojunction films are prepared by solvothermal deposition of a WO(3) nanorod-array film onto fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass, with subsequent deposition of a low bandgap, 2.4 eV, visible light responding BiVO(4) layer by spin-coating. The heterojunction structure offers enhanced photoconversion efficiency and increased photocorrosion stability. Compared to planar WO(3)/BiVO(4) heterojunction films, the nanorod-array films show significantly improved photoelectrochemical properties due, we believe, to the high surface area and improved separation of the photogenerated charge at the WO(3)/BiVO(4) interface. Synthesis details are discussed, with film morphologies and structures characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi 710049, China.
authors.forename: Jinzhan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Liejin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Ningzhong
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Grimes