Highly symmetrical, 24-faceted, concave BiVO4 polyhedron bounded by multiple high-index facets for prominent photocatalytic O2 evolution under visible light

A highly symmetrical, 24-faceted, concave BiVO4 polyhedron was fabricated, bounded by multiple high-index {012}, {210}, {115}, and {511} facets, exhibiting impressive photocatalytic O2 evolution for water oxidation in the absence of any cocatalysts, more than two orders of magnitude higher than that of the bulk materials. The corresponding apparent quantum yield (AQY) of O2 evolution was measured as high as 30.7% under 420 nm light irradiation, a new record AQY for BiVO4. The high-index facets are not only energetically favorable for water dissociation, but also exhibit an obvious reduction in the overpotential (0.7-1.0 V) for the oxygen evolution reaction.