Bismuth vanadate(BiVO_4) is a promising semiconductor material for solar energy conversion via photoelectrochemical(PEC) water splitting,whereas its performance is limited by surface recombination due to trapping stat...Bismuth vanadate(BiVO_4) is a promising semiconductor material for solar energy conversion via photoelectrochemical(PEC) water splitting,whereas its performance is limited by surface recombination due to trapping states.Herein,we developed a new method to passivate the trapping states on BiVO_4 surface using ultrathin aluminum oxide(Al_2O_3) overlayer by atomic layer deposition.The coated ultrathin Al_2O_3 film on BiVO_4 significantly enhanced photocurrent densities of the BiVO_4 anodes under standard illumination of AM1.5 G(100 mW/cm2).The electrochemical impedances and photoluminescence spectra were studied to confirm that the improved PEC water splitting performance of BiVO_4 was due to the decreased surface recombination state on BiVO_4,which effectively enhanced the charge separation.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21473236,21227804)the Shanghai Municipal Commission for Science and Technology(13NM1402300)+1 种基金the Chinese Academy of Sciencessupport by the Deanship of Scientific Research,College of Science Research Center at King Saud University
文摘Bismuth vanadate(BiVO_4) is a promising semiconductor material for solar energy conversion via photoelectrochemical(PEC) water splitting,whereas its performance is limited by surface recombination due to trapping states.Herein,we developed a new method to passivate the trapping states on BiVO_4 surface using ultrathin aluminum oxide(Al_2O_3) overlayer by atomic layer deposition.The coated ultrathin Al_2O_3 film on BiVO_4 significantly enhanced photocurrent densities of the BiVO_4 anodes under standard illumination of AM1.5 G(100 mW/cm2).The electrochemical impedances and photoluminescence spectra were studied to confirm that the improved PEC water splitting performance of BiVO_4 was due to the decreased surface recombination state on BiVO_4,which effectively enhanced the charge separation.