Enhanced performance of NiF_(2)/BiVO_(4)photoanode for photoelectrochemical water splitting

The serious surface charge recombination and fatigued photogenerated carriers transfer of the BiVO_(4)photoanode restrict its photoelectrochemical(PEC)water splitting performance.In this work,nickel fluoride(NiF_(2))is applied to revamp pure BiVO_(4)photoanode by using a facile electrodeposition method.As a result,the asprepared NiF_(2)/BiVO_(4)photoanode increases the dramatic photocurrent density by approximately 180%compared with the pristine BiVO_(4)photoanode.Furthermore,the correlative photon-to-current conversion efficiency,the charge injection,and the separation efficiency,as well as the hydrogen generation of the composite photoanode have been memorably enhanced due to the synergy of NiF_(2)and BiVO_(4).This study may furnish a dependable guidance in fabricating the fluoride-based compound/semiconductor composite photoanode system.