title: Atomic Layer Deposition of Bismuth Vanadates for Solar Energy Materials.
abstract: The fabrication of porous nanocomposites is key to the advancement of energy conversion and storage devices that interface with electrolytes. Bismuth vanadate, BiVO4 , is a promising oxide for solar water splitting where the controlled fabrication of BiVO4 layers within porous, conducting scaffolds has remained a challenge. Here, the atomic layer deposition of bismuth vanadates is reported from BiPh3 , vanadium(V) oxytriisopropoxide, and water. The resulting films have tunable stoichiometry and may be crystallized to form the photoactive scheelite structure of BiVO4 . A selective etching process was used with vanadium-rich depositions to enable the synthesis of phase-pure BiVO4 after spinodal decomposition. BiVO4 thin films were measured for photoelectrochemical performance under AM 1.5 illumination. The average photocurrents were 1.17 mA cm(-2) at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode using a hole-scavenging sulfite electrolyte. The capability to deposit conformal bismuth vanadates will enable a new generation of nanocomposite architectures for solar water splitting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA. morgan@stefikgroup.com.
authors.forename: Morgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stefik
mesh_terms: D001729:Bismuth / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D012993:Solar Energy; D014638:Vanadates / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D014867:Water; C091754:bismuth vanadium tetraoxide; D014638:Vanadates; D001729:Bismuth
keywords: atomic layer deposition; bismuth; energy conversion; vanadates; water splitting