Enhanced optical properties of BiVO4 photoanode with subwavelength moth-eye structure fabricated via e-beam evaporation and direct printing

Abstract

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting, which harnesses solar radiation (an infinite energy source) for clean hydrogen production without carbon-dioxide emissions, is an ideal eco-friendly energy technology. The core reactions in PEC water splitting, involving the oxidation and reduction of water, are driven by electron–hole pairs generated through solar energy absorption. Consequently, the light-absorption efficiency emerges as a critical parameter in PEC devices. Conventional thin-film-type photoanodes, however, grapple with limited absorption due to their high reflectance, hindering absorption and carrier separation efficiency. Conversely, moth-eye-structured photoanodes exhibit an anti-reflection effect stemming from their subwavelength structure, markedly enhancing light-absorption efficiency. In this study, we present the design and fabrication of a densely packed moth-eye-structured bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) (M-BVO) photoanode, which is engineered to possess superior light absorption properties. The photoanode was fabricated via direct printing, electron-beam evaporation, and Vanadium calcination processes. The light absorption of the resulting M-BVO photoanode increased to approximately 92 % within the 300–500 nm wavelength range, with the absorption efficiency (η_abs) surging to 82.9 %. This represents a 23.5 % enhancement compared to its flat BiVO₄ counterparts. Impressively, the photocurrent density of M-BVO reached 2.98 mA cm⁻² at 1.23 V_RHE, 37.6 % higher than that of flat BiVO₄. These results indicate that the PEC efficiency can be significantly increased through moth-eye structuring, emphasizing the indispensable role of nanostructure research in the manufacture of high-efficiency photoanodes.