title: Efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation over cobalt-phosphate (Co-Pi) catalyst modified BiVO4/1D-WO3 heterojunction electrodes.
abstract: We report the design, synthesis and photoelectrochemical characterization of cobalt phosphate (Co-Pi) oxygen evolution catalyst modified heterojunction photoelectrodes consisting of one-dimensional WO3 nanorods (1D-WO3) and highly porous BiVO4 layers. The 1D-WO3 nanorods were prepared by the decomposition of the tetrabutylammonium decatungstate precursor in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol) as a binding agent. The porous BiVO4 layers were spray deposited using a surfactant assisted metal-organic decomposition method. The Co-Pi oxygen evolution catalyst was deposited onto the BiVO4/1D-WO3/FTO heterojunction electrode using a photoassisted electrodeposition method. The Co-Pi catalyst modified heterojunction electrodes exhibited a sustained enhancement in the photocurrent compared to the unmodified BiVO4/1D-WO3/FTO heterojunction electrodes. The improved photoelectrochemical properties profited from the enhanced charge carrier separation achieved through the integration of highly porous BiVO4 layers on top of 1D-WO3 nanorods and from the superior kinetics due to the presence of the Co-Pi oxygen evolution catalyst on top of BiVO4/1D-WO3/FTO heterojunction electrodes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado School Mines, Golden, CO 80401, USA. aherring@mines.edu spilli@mines.edu.
authors.forename: Satyananda Kishore
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Pilli
authors.forename: Rajeswari
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Janarthanan
authors.forename: Todd G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Deutsch
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Furtak
authors.forename: Logan D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Herring