Work

Reactive Sputtering of Bismuth Vanadate Photoanodes for Solar Water Splitting

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: Bismuth vanadate (BiVO 4 ) has attracted increasing attention as a photoanode for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. It has a band gap in the visible light range (2.4–2.5 eV) and a valence band position suitable for driving water oxidation under illumination. While a number of methods have been used to make BiVO 4 photoanodes, scalable thin film deposition has remained relatively underexplored. Here, we report the synthesis of BiVO 4 thin films by reactive sputtering. The use of separate Bi and V sputtering targets allows control of the Bi/V ratio in the film. Under optimized, slightly V-rich conditions, monoclinic phase BiVO 4 with photoactivity for water oxidation is obtained. The highest photocurrents, ca. 1 mA cm –2 at the reversible O 2 /H 2 O potential with simulated AM 1.5G illumination, are obtained with bilayer WO 3 /BiVO 4, where the WO 3 serves as a hole-blocking layer.

Source: The Journal of Physical Chemistry C

DOI: 10.1021/jp406019r

Authors: Le Chen, Esther Alarcón-Lladó, Mark Hettick, Ian D. Sharp, Yongjing Lin, Ali Javey, Joel W. Ager

Institutions: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, University of California, Berkeley

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W1999987540

FWCI: 6.131

Cites: 36

Cited by: 180

Related to: 10