Photoanodes on titanium substrates: one-step deposited BiVO4 versus two-step nano-V2O5 films impregnated with Bi3+

Abstract: One-step deposition of photoelectrochemically active BiVO4 (monoclinic) from a polyethylene glycol (PEG300) precursor paint onto titanium substrates is demonstrated to lead to more complex multioxide phase films. Photocurrents in 0.5 M Na2SO4 remain relatively low when compared to those reported on tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) substrates, possibly due to the effect of detrimental underlying titanium oxide phases or mixed phases. For comparison, the one-step deposition is demonstrated also for the direct formation of V2O5 nanocrystalline films, which also exhibited low photoelectrochemical activity. Impregnation of nanocrystalline V2O5 with aqueous Bi3+ is shown to cause substantial recrystallization with formation of much more photoactive BiVO4. In particular, on low-temperature (high surface area) nano-V2O5 (400 A degrees C) and after further mild annealing at 400 A degrees C much improved photoelectrochemical water oxidation activity (ca. 0.3 mA cm(-2) at 1.0 V vs Ag/AgCl (KCl (3 M) at 0.1-W cm(-2) xenon lamp radiation) is observed. This opens up a new mild temperature two-step route for BiVO4 photocatalysts on practical titanium substrates.

Author(s): Gromboni, MF; Araujo, MA; Downey, E; Marken, F; Mascaro, LH

JOURNAL OF SOLID STATE ELECTROCHEMISTRY

DOI: 10.1007/s10008-015-3034-1