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Alruwaili M, Roy A, Alhabradi M, Yang X, Chang H, Tahir AA. Heterostructured WO 3-TiVO 4 thin-film photocatalyst for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting. Heliyon 2024; 10:e25446. [PMID: 38322971 PMCID: PMC10844574 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Photoelectrochemical water splitting via solar irradiation has garnered significant interest due to its potential in large-scale renewable hydrogen production. Heterostructure materials have emerged as an effective strategy, demonstrating enhanced performance in photoelectrochemical water-splitting applications compared to individual photocatalysts. In this study, to augment the performance of sprayed TiVO4 thin films, a hydrothermally prepared WO3 underlayer was integrated beneath the spray pyrolised TiVO4 film. The consequent heterostructure demonstrated notable enhancements in optical, structural, microstructural attributes, and photocurrent properties. This improvement is attributed to the strategic deposition of WO3 underlayer, forming a heterostructure composite electrode. This led to a marked increase in photocurrent density for the WO3/TiVO4 photoanode, reaching a peak of 740 μA/cm2 at an applied potential of 1.23 V vs RHE, about nine-fold that of standalone TiVO4. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed a reduced semicircle for the heterostructure, indicating improved charge transfer compared to bare TiVO4. The heterostructure photoelectrode exhibited enhanced charge carrier conductivity at the interface and sustained stability over 3 h. The distinct attributes of heterostructure photoelectrode present significant opportunities for devising highly efficient sunlight-driven water-splitting systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manal Alruwaili
- Solar Energy Research Group, Environment and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn, TR10 9FE, United Kingdom
- Physics Department, Jouf University, P.O. Box 2014, Sakaka, 42421, Saudi Arabia
| | - Anurag Roy
- Solar Energy Research Group, Environment and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn, TR10 9FE, United Kingdom
| | - Mansour Alhabradi
- Solar Energy Research Group, Environment and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn, TR10 9FE, United Kingdom
- Department of Physics, Majmaah University, Majmaah, 11952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Xiuru Yang
- Solar Energy Research Group, Environment and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn, TR10 9FE, United Kingdom
| | - Hong Chang
- Department of Engineering, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QF, United Kingdom
| | - Asif Ali Tahir
- Solar Energy Research Group, Environment and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn, TR10 9FE, United Kingdom
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Alhabradi M, Yang X, Alruwaili M, Chang H, Tahir AA. Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance Using Cobalt-Catalyst-Loaded PVD/RF-Engineered WO 3 Photoelectrodes. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 14:259. [PMID: 38334530 PMCID: PMC10856820 DOI: 10.3390/nano14030259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Critical to boosting photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance is improving visible light absorption, accelerating carrier separation, and reducing electron-hole pair recombination. In this investigation, the PVD/RF method was employed to fabricate WO3 thin films that were subsequently treated using the surface treatment process, and the film surface was modified by introducing varying concentrations of cobalt nanoparticles, a non-noble metal, as an effective Co catalyst. The results show that the impact of loaded cobalt nanoparticles on the film surface can explain the extended absorption spectrum of visible light, efficiently capturing photogenerated electrons. This leads to an increased concentration of charge carriers, promoting a faster rate of carrier separation and enhancing interface charge transfer efficiency. Compared with a pristine WO3 thin film photoanode, the photocurrent of the as-prepared Co/WO3 films shows a higher PEC activity, with more than a one-fold increase in photocurrent density from 1.020 mA/cm2 to 1.485 mA/cm2 under simulated solar radiation. The phase, crystallinity, and surface of the prepared films were analysed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. The PVD/RF method, scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) were employed to assess the surface morphology of the fabricated film electrode. Optical properties were studied using UV-vis absorbance spectroscopy. Simultaneously, the photoelectrochemical properties of both films were evaluated using linear sweep voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). These results offer a valuable reference for designing high-performance photoanodes on a large scale for photoelectrochemical (PEC) applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mansour Alhabradi
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK; (X.Y.); (M.A.); (A.A.T.)
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Majmaah University, Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Xiuru Yang
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK; (X.Y.); (M.A.); (A.A.T.)
| | - Manal Alruwaili
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK; (X.Y.); (M.A.); (A.A.T.)
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Jouf University, Sakaka 42421, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hong Chang
- Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QF, UK;
| | - Asif Ali Tahir
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK; (X.Y.); (M.A.); (A.A.T.)
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