Enhanced performance of NiF₂/BiVO₄ photoanode for photoelectrochemical water splitting

Abstract

The serious surface charge recombination and fatigued photogenerated carriers transfer of the BiVO₄ photoanode restrict its photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting performance. In this work, nickel fluoride (NiF₂) is applied to revamp pure BiVO₄ photoanode by using a facile electrodeposition method. As a result, the as-prepared NiF₂/BiVO₄ photoanode increases the dramatic photocurrent density by approximately 180% compared with the pristine BiVO₄ photoanode. Furthermore, the correlative photon-to-current conversion efficiency, the charge injection, and the separation efficiency, as well as the hydrogen generation of the composite photoanode have been memorably enhanced due to the synergy of NiF₂ and BiVO₄. This study may furnish a dependable guidance in fabricating the fluoride-based compound/semiconductor composite photoanode system.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

BiVO₄ / NiF₂ / heterojunction / photoelectrochemical water splitting

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