BiFeO3 photocathodes for efficient H2O2 production via charge carrier dynamics engineering. Issue 7 (24th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Zemin; Tan, Bing; Ma, Wenjun; Liu, Bo; Sun, Mengdi; Cooper, Jason K.; Han, Weihua
• Is Part Of: Environmental science. Volume 9:Issue 7(2022)
• Page Start: 1999
• Page End: 2006
• Publication Date: 2022-05-24
• Subjects: Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; 620.505
• DOI: 10.1039/d2mh00201a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2051-8153

Abstract

Abstract : A remarkable advance in BiFeO3 -based photocathodes was achieved by introducing a functional charge collection layer to boost the charge carrier dynamics by reducing the charge transport barrier and prolonging the lifetime of photocarriers. Abstract : Metal oxide semiconductors are promising candidate photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical H2 O2 production if the issues of poor efficiency and selectivity can be resolved. An unfavorable charge transport barrier causes poor carrier collection and kinetics, limiting their efficiency and selectivity. Herein, BiFeO3 was used as the model photocathode, and its interfacial charge transport barrier between fluorine-doped tin oxide substrates was modulated by introducing a LaNiO3 layer as the charge collection layer. Our findings show the significantly enhanced photoelectrochemical activity of the composite photocathode with an improved photocurrent by three times (−0.9 mA cm −2 at 0.6 V vs. RHE) and the H2 O2 formation up to 278 μmol L −1 with doubled faradaic efficiency. It is shown that these enhancements are due to the promoted charge carrier collection and kinetics. This work demonstrates the significant role of the charge collection layer in improving the collection and usage of photocarriers to accelerate the application of solar-to-fuel conversion.