Enhanced Surface Reaction Kinetics and Charge Separation of p–n Heterojunction Co3O4/BiVO4 Photoanodes

Surface reaction kinetics and bulk charge separation are both critical to the efficiency of solar water splitting. In addition to the well-documented surface catalytic effect, the promotion of bulk charge separation upon loading of cocatalysts has rarely been reported. This paper describes the synergetic enhancement of surface reaction kinetics and bulk charge separation by introducing discrete nanoisland p-type Co3O4 cocatalysts onto n-type BiVO4, forming a p-n Co3O4/BiVO4 heterojunction with an internal electric field to facilitate charge transport. Being highly dispersed on the surface of photoanodes, the nanoisland cocatalysts could suppress the formation of recombination centers at the photoanode/cocatalyst interface. This cocatalyst-loading method achieved a charge separation efficiency of up to 77% in the bulk and 47% on the surface of catalysts. An AM 1.5G photocurrent of 2.71 mA/cm(2) at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode for water oxidation was obtained, which is the highest photocurrent yet reported for Co-catalyzed undoped BiVO4 photoanodes, with a photoconversion efficiency of 0.659%.