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Photoelectrochemical Performance of BiVO 4 Photoanodes Integrated with [NiFe]‐Layered Double Hydroxide Nanocatalysts
Author(s) -
Sinclair Timothy S.,
Gray Harry B.,
Müller Astrid M.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
european journal of inorganic chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.667
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1099-0682
pISSN - 1434-1948
DOI - 10.1002/ejic.201701231
Subject(s) - nanomaterial based catalyst , photocurrent , sulfite , hydroxide , chemistry , catalysis , water splitting , chemical engineering , photoelectrochemistry , electrolyte , aqueous solution , inorganic chemistry , electrochemistry , nanotechnology , materials science , photocatalysis , electrode , optoelectronics , organic chemistry , engineering
We immobilized laser‐made nickel iron layered double hydroxide ([NiFe]‐LDH) nanocatalysts on BiVO 4 photoanodes. We compared photoelectrochemical performance of integrated [NiFe]‐LDH–BiVO 4 photoanodes in sulfite‐free aqueous electrolyte with photocurrent generation of neat BiVO 4 photoanodes in aqueous electrolyte with sulfite added as sacrificial hole acceptor. We optimized catalyst mass loading, which is a tradeoff between most efficient depletion of photogenerated holes that drive catalytic turnover and parasitic light absorption by the catalyst particles. We also mitigated nanocatalyst aggregation on the BiVO 4 surface by a surfactant that selectively ligated the catalysts or by dispersing the catalyst suspension more rapidly on the photoanode surface. Our rational optimization strategies enhanced photoelectrochemical performance of integrated nanocatalyst photoanodes: Two thirds of all photogenerated holes escaped loss processes in our optimized integrated [NiFe]‐LDH–BiVO 4 photoanodes under 100 mW cm –2 of simulated air mass 1.5 G illumination in aqueous pH 9.2 buffered electrolyte. Our systematic optimization strategies for integration of highly efficient water oxidation nanocatalysts with a visible‐light absorber provide a path towards functional artificial photosynthesis devices.