Open AccessAerosol‐Assisted CVD of Bismuth Vanadate Thin Films and Their Photoelectrochemical Properties
Author(s) -
Brack Paul,
Sagu Jagdeep S.,
Peiris T. A. Nirmal,
McInnes Andrew,
Senili Mauro,
Wijayantha K. G. Upul,
Marken Frank,
Selli Elena
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chemical vapor deposition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3862
pISSN - 0948-1907
DOI - 10.1002/cvde.201407142
Subject(s) - bismuth vanadate , photocurrent , materials science , scanning electron microscope , thin film , photoelectrochemical cell , tin oxide , monoclinic crystal system , raman spectroscopy , photoelectrochemistry , bismuth , water splitting , chemical engineering , electrode , nanotechnology , photocatalysis , electrochemistry , chemistry , doping , optics , optoelectronics , electrolyte , catalysis , crystal structure , crystallography , engineering , composite material , biochemistry , metallurgy , physics
Thin film bismuth vanadate (BiVO 4 ) photoelectrodes are prepared by aerosol‐assisted (AA)CVD for the first time on fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrates. The BiVO 4 photoelectrodes are characterised by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy (RS), and energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX) spectroscopy and are found to consist of phase‐pure monoclinic BiVO 4 . Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis shows that the thin film is uniform with a porous structure, and consists of particles approximately 75−125 nm in diameter. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of the BiVO 4 photoelectrodes are studied in aqueous 1 M Na 2 SO 4 and show photocurrent densities of 0.4 mA cm −2 , and a maximum incident‐photon‐to‐electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) of 19% at 1.23 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). BiVO 4 photoelectrodes prepared by this method are thus highly promising for use in PEC water‐splitting cells.