Tailored BiVO_(4)/In_(2)O_(3)nanostructures with boosted charge separation ability toward unassisted water splitting

The development of new heterostructures with high photoactivity is a breakthrough for the limitation of solar-driven water splitting.Here,we first introduce indium oxide(In_(2)O_(3))nanorods(NRs)as a novel electron transport layer for bismuth vanadate(BiVO_(4))with a short charge diffusion length.In_(2)O_(3)NRs reinforce the electron transport and hole blocking of BiVO_(4),surpassing the state-of-the-art photoelectrochemical performances of BiVO_(4)-based photoanodes.Also,a tannin-nickel-iron complex(TANF)is used as an oxygen evolution catalyst to speed up the reaction kinetics.The final TANF/BiVO_(4)/In_(2)O_(3)NR photoanode generates photocurrent densities of 7.1 mAcm^(−2) in sulfite oxidation and 4.2 mA cm^(−2) in water oxidation at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode.Furthermore,the“artificial leaf,”which is a tandem cell with a perovskite/silicon solar cell,shows a solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of 6.2%for unbiased solar water splitting.We reveal significant advances in the photoactivity of TANF/BiVO_(4)/In_(2)O_(3)NRs from the tailored nanostructure and band structure for charge dynamics.

Reduced graphene oxide-based materials for electrochemical energy conversion reactions

There have been ever-growing demands to develop advanced electrocatalysts for renewable energy conversion over the past decade.As a promising platform for advanced electrocatalysts,reduced graphene oxide(rGO)has attracted substantial research interests in a variety of electrochemical energy conversion reactions.Its versatile utility is mainly attributed to unique physical and chemical properties,such as high specific surface area,tunable electronic structure,and the feasibility of structural modification and functionalization.Here,a comprehensive discussion is provided upon recent advances in the material preparation,characterization,and the catalytic activity of rGO-based electrocatalysts for various electrochemical energy conversion reactions(water splitting,CO2 reduction reaction,N2 reduction reaction,and O2 reduction reaction).Major advantages of rGO and the related challenges for enhancing their catalytic performance are addressed.