Low-bias photoelectrochemical water splitting via mediating trap states and small polaron hopping

Hao Wu, Lei Zhang, Aijun Du, Rowshanak Irani, Roel Krol, Fatwa F. Abdi and Yun Hau Ng ()
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Hao Wu: City University of Hong Kong
Lei Zhang: Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Campus
Aijun Du: Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Campus
Rowshanak Irani: Institute for Solar Fuels, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH
Roel Krol: Institute for Solar Fuels, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH
Fatwa F. Abdi: Institute for Solar Fuels, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH
Yun Hau Ng: City University of Hong Kong

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Metal oxides are promising for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting due to their robustness and low cost. However, poor charge carrier transport impedes their activity, particularly at low-bias voltage. Here we demonstrate the unusual effectiveness of phosphorus doping into bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) photoanode for efficient low-bias PEC water splitting. The resulting BiVO4 photoanode shows a separation efficiency of 80% and 99% at potentials as low as 0.6 and 1.0 VRHE, respectively. Theoretical simulation and experimental analysis collectively verify that the record performance originates from the unique phosphorus-doped BiVO4 configuration with concurrently mediated carrier density, trap states, and small polaron hopping. With NiFeOx cocatalyst, the BiVO4 photoanode achieves an applied bias photon-to-current efficiency of 2.21% at 0.6 VRHE. The mechanistic understanding of the enhancement of BiVO4 properties provides key insights in trap state passivation and polaron hopping for most photoactive metal oxides.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33905-6

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