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AgFeS 2 ‐Nanowire‐Modified BiVO 4 Photoanodes for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
Author(s) -
Zheng Xiuzhen,
Sciacca Beniamino,
Garnett Erik C.,
Zhang Liwu
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chempluschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.801
H-Index - 61
ISSN - 2192-6506
DOI - 10.1002/cplu.201600095
Subject(s) - photocurrent , water splitting , materials science , energy conversion efficiency , optoelectronics , photoelectrochemistry , band gap , photoelectrochemical cell , ternary operation , electrode , charge carrier , absorption (acoustics) , nanowire , energy transformation , solar energy , nanotechnology , chemistry , electrochemistry , photocatalysis , electrolyte , physics , catalysis , biochemistry , composite material , computer science , thermodynamics , programming language , ecology , biology
Photoelectrochemical water splitting is a promising and environmentally friendly route for the conversion of solar energy into hydrogen. However, the efficiency of this energy conversion process is low because of the limited light absorption and rapid bulk recombination of charge carriers. In this study, the combination of a novel ternary sensitizer AgFeS 2 , having a narrow bandgap of 0.9 eV, with a BiVO 4 electrode is presented for the enhancement of the solar‐energy‐to‐hydrogen conversion efficiency. The photoelectrochemical properties of this combined material were investigated and the photocurrent densities of AgFeS 2 –BiVO 4 composite electrodes were greatly enhanced compared with pristine BiVO 4 (15 times higher at 0.6 V vs. Ag/AgCl under AM 1.5G illumination). The enhanced photoelectrochemical properties arise from extended light absorption, fast charge transfer and appropriate energy gap alignment. It was demonstrated that AgFeS 2 nanowires are promising inorganic sensitizers for improving the efficiency of solar water splitting.