Photoreduced Graphene Oxide as a Conductive Binder to Improve the Water Splitting Activity of Photocatalyst Sheets

Photocatalyst sheets consisting of H 2 evolution photocatalyst (HEP) and O 2 evolution photocatalyst (OEP) particles applied to an underlying conductive layer show promise with regard to promoting efficient and scalable water splitting. One of the most important challenges in enhancing the performance of such systems is establishing efficient charge transfer between photocatalyst particles that are often thickly stacked on the conductive layer. In this study, reduced graphene oxide (RGO) is investigated as an additional solid mediator to the conductive layer to bridge particulate photocatalysts and thus ensure effective charge transfer. Photocatalyst sheets made of RhCrO x /LaMg 1/3 Ta 2/3 O 2 N as the HEP and BiVO 4 :Mo as the OEP are applied to an Au layer together with RGO. The activity of this system is 3.5 times greater following the incorporation of the RGO. Charaterization analyses reveal that RhCrO x /LaMg 1/3 Ta 2/3 O 2 N particles tens of nanometers in size are fixed on larger, micrometer‐sized, BiVO 4 :Mo particles by RGO photoreduced from GO in situ. The RGO facilitates charge transfer between particles that are distant from the underlying Au layer and thus involves more photocatalyst particles in the water splitting reaction. It is concluded that the incorporation of conductive materials into the photocatalyst particle layer can effectively enhance the water splitting activity of photocatalyst sheets.