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An Efficient Strategy for Boosting Photogenerated Charge Separation by Using Porphyrins as Interfacial Charge Mediators
Author(s) -
Ning Xingming,
Lu Bingzhang,
Zhang Zhen,
Du Peiyao,
Ren Hongxia,
Shan Duoliang,
Chen Jing,
Gao Yunjing,
Lu Xiaoquan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201908833
Subject(s) - photocurrent , electrolyte , materials science , optoelectronics , charge (physics) , surface charge , charge carrier , recombination , electron transfer , nanotechnology , chemistry , chemical physics , electrode , photochemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , biochemistry , gene
Surface recombination at the photoanode/electrolyte junction seriously impedes photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance. Through coating of photoanodes with oxygen evolution catalysts, the photocurrent can be enhanced; however, current systems for water splitting still suffer from high recombination. We describe herein a novel charge transfer system designed with BiVO 4 as a prototype. In this system, porphyrins act as an interfacial‐charge‐transfer mediator, like a volleyball setter, to efficiently suppress surface recombination through higher hole‐transfer kinetics rather than as a traditional photosensitizer. Furthermore, we found that the introduction of a “setter” can ensure a long lifetime of charge carriers at the photoanode/electrolyte interface. This simple interface charge‐modulation system exhibits increased photocurrent density from 0.68 to 4.75 mA cm −2 and provides a promising design strategy for efficient photogenerated charge separation to improve PEC performance.