Efficient Water Splitting Cascade Photoanodes with Ligand-Engineered MnO Cocatalysts.

ABSTRACT: The band edge positions of semiconductors determine functionality in solar water splitting. While ligand exchange is known to enable modification of the band structure, its crucial role in water splitting efficiency is not yet fully understood. Here, ligand-engineered manganese oxide cocatalyst nanoparticles (MnO NPs) on bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) anodes are first demonstrated, and a remarkably enhanced photocurrent density of 6.25 mA cm^-2 is achieved. It is close to 85% of the theoretical photocurrent density (≈7.5 mA cm^-2) of BiVO₄. Improved photoactivity is closely related to the substantial shifts in band edge energies that originate from both the induced dipole at the ligand/MnO interface and the intrinsic dipole of the ligand. Combined spectr

SUBMITTER: Lee MG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6193156 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature