The photoelectrochemical properties of FTO/WO3/BiVO4/TiO2 photoanode for water splitting

Abstract

This work investigates the photoelectrochemical performance of an FTO (Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide) /WO₃ (tungsten trioxide) /BiVO₄ (bismuth vanadate) /TiO₂ (titanium dioxide) photoanode for water splitting. By forming a heterojunction between WO₃ and BiVO₄, charge separation and transportation are significantly enhanced, resulting in an improved photocurrent density. Surface modification with a thin TiO₂ layer further improves the stability of the photoanode without compromising its photocurrent. The SEM, XRD, and XPS analyses confirm the successful formation of the photoanode structure. The photoelectrochemical J-V curves demonstrate that the WO₃/BiVO₄ composite electrode outperforms single WO₃ and BiVO₄ electrodes, and the TiO₂ coating further enhances its performance. These findings provide valuable insights into optimizing BiVO₄-based photoanodes for efficient hydrogen production via water splitting.