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Synthesis of Nanovoid Bi 2 WO 6 2D Ordered Arrays as Photoanodes for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
Author(s) -
Zhang Liwu,
Bahnemann Detlef
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201200708
Subject(s) - photocurrent , water splitting , materials science , energy conversion efficiency , semiconductor , optoelectronics , diffusion , nanotechnology , photoelectrochemistry , charge carrier , electrochemistry , photocatalysis , electrode , chemistry , catalysis , biochemistry , physics , thermodynamics
Herein we report a facile and economic method to prepare nanovoid Bi 2 WO 6 2D ordered arrays employing a simple self‐assembly procedure. The electrochemical properties and performance of the 2D nanoarray as a photoanode for water splitting are investigated and compared with a conventional photoanode of similar thickness. The 2D array photoanode shows a much higher photocurrent density and photon‐to‐H 2 conversion efficiency even with a small content of the Bi 2 WO 6 material. The enhancement is further studied and explained on the basis of the superiority of light scattering and photogenerated hole diffusion within the 2D array structure. This work provides a facile method to improve the efficiency of solar energy conversion systems by minimizing the charge‐carrier diffusion length and reducing the light reflection, as well as reducing the amount of the semiconductor material (often costly and/or rare) present in the photoanode.