| Due to nonrenewable traditional fossil fuels and more and more prominent environmental problems,searching for clean renewable energy is urgent.Solar energy has attracted scientists’eyes for its clean and abundance.Photoelectrochemical water splitting into hydrogen by solar energy is the most direct and facile method of reserving solar energy.So,it is of extreme importance to fabricate one excellent photoelectrochemical water splitting device.Among several semiconductor materials,bismuth vanadate has been extensively studied by scientists for its good bandgap（2.4 eV）and edge position.However,bismuth vanadate itself has some intrinsic property problems（such as poor charge separation,low conductivity,slow oxidation kinetics,etc.）,which lead to lower photoelectric conversion efficiency.To solve these problems,a large number of technical means have been adopted.In this study,bismuth vanadate crystal structure and surface modification cocatalysts are used to improve the photoelectric conversion efficiency of electrodes.A bismuth vanadate photoanode with high efficiency and stability is obtained by photodeposition of novel Co series cocatalysts and TiO2 electron transport layer.Then,the improved bismuth vanadate photoanode is connected in series with the a-Si photocathode to form the photoelectric water splitting cell,and a solar-driven,spontaneous and efficient device is obtained,with the photoelectric conversion efficiency reaching 3%.In addition,bismuth vanadate electrode has been used in some other applications of solar energy utilization.Such as,photoelectric degradation of organic pollutants in the field of environment has achieved better removal effect;photoelectric selective synthesis of important chemical raw materials in chemical engineering field has obtained good conversion and yield.This provides a new idea and vision for the further application of bismuth vanadate. |
