Nanometer-Resolved Operando Photo-Response of Faceted BiVO₄ Semiconductor Nanoparticles.

ABSTRACT: Photo(electro)catalysis with semiconducting nanoparticles (NPs) is an attractive approach to convert abundant but intermittent renewable electricity into stable chemical fuels. However, our understanding of the microscopic processes governing the performance of the materials has been hampered by the lack of operando characterization techniques with sufficient lateral resolution. Here, we demonstrate that the local surface potentials of NPs of bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) and their response to illumination differ between adjacent facets and depend strongly on the pH of the ambient electrolyte. The isoelectric points of the dominant {010} basal plane and the adjacent {110} side facets differ by 1.5 pH units. Upon illumination, both facets accumulate positive charges and display a maxi

SUBMITTER: Su S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10811660 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature