Improved Photocurrents for Water Oxidation by Using Metal–Organic Framework Derived Hybrid Porous Co3O4@Carbon/BiVO4 as a Photoanode. Issue 9 (29th April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hou, Chun‐Chao; Li, Ting‐Ting; Chen, Yong; Fu, Wen‐Fu
• Is Part Of: ChemPlusChem. Volume 80:Issue 9(2015:Sep.)
• Page Start: 1465
• Page End: 1471
• Publication Date: 2015-04-29
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1002/cplu.201500058
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2192-6506

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Efforts to improve the overall efficiency of photoelectrochemical water splitting by promoting interfacial charge transfer and suppressing electron–hole recombination remain a challenge. Highly porous Co₃O₄@carbon derived from metal–organic frameworks was successfully embedded on the surface of BiVO₄ nanosheets. The Co₃O₄@carbon/BiVO₄ composites were fully characterised by a variety of techniques, including powder XRD, diffuse reflectance UV/Vis spectroscopy, BET surface area calculations, SEM, TEM, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, high‐angle annular dark‐field scanning TEM, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The construction of a heterojunction between porous Co₃O₄ (p‐Co₃O₄) and BiVO₄ significantly promoted charge transfer and suppressed the recombination of holes and electrons. Consequently, the p‐Co₃O₄@carbon/BiVO₄ photoanode demonstrated approximately tenfold higher photocurrent density relative to bare BiVO₄ and bulk Co₃O₄/BiVO₄ for water oxidation under the same conditions. Also, this system displayed good durability for water oxidation and could be recycled at least three times without any loss of catalytic activity.</p> </abstract>