Synergistic effect of Ag@CN with BiVO 4 in a unique Z-type heterojunction for enhancing photoelectrochemical water splitting performance

(Mo,W:BVO) with silver-loaded CN (Ag@CN), yielding an all-solid-state Mo,W:BVO/Ag@CN heterostructure that effectively augments the separation efficiency of electron-hole pairs. Through the annealing process, Ag@CN was uniformly coated within the Mo,W:BVO thin film, significantly enlarging the interface contact area to enhance visible light absorption and photogenerated carrier movement. The results of the photoelectrochemical tests showed that the Mo,W:BVO/Ag@CN heterostructure had the highest photocurrent and charge transfer efficiency, which were 6.4 times and 3.6 times higher respectively than those of the unmodified Mo,W:BVO. Our research elucidates the interactions within all-solid-state Z-scheme heterojunctions, outlining strategic approaches for crafting innovative and superior photocatalytic systems.