Abstract
We demonstrate, for the first time, electrostatically sprayed bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) thin films for photoelectrochemical water splitting. Characterization of these films by X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy analyses revealed the formation of nanotextured pillar-like structures of highly photoactive monoclinic scheelite BiVO4. Electrosprayed BiVO4 nanostructured films yielded a photocurrent density of 1.30 and 1.95 mA/cm2 for water and sulfite oxidation, respectively, under 100 mW/cm2 illumination. The optimal film thickness was 3 μm, with an optimal postannealing temperature of 550 C. The enhanced photocurrent is facilitated by formation of pillar-like structures in the deposit. We show through modeling that these structures result from the electrically-driven motion of submicron particles in the direction parallel to the substrate, as they approach the substrate, along with Brownian diffusion. At the same time, opposing thermophoretic forces slow their approach to the surface. The model of these processes proposed here is in good agreement with the experimental observations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 3727-3737 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Langmuir |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2015 Mar 31 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Materials Science(all)
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Surfaces and Interfaces
- Spectroscopy
- Electrochemistry
Cite this
Nanotextured pillars of electrosprayed bismuth vanadate for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting. / Yoon, Hyun; Mali, Mukund G.; Choi, Jae Young; Kim, Min Woo; Choi, Sung Kyu; Park, Hyunwoong; Al-Deyab, Salem S.; Swihart, Mark T.; Yarin, Alexander; Yoon, Suk Goo.
In: Langmuir, Vol. 31, No. 12, 31.03.2015, p. 3727-3737.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Nanotextured pillars of electrosprayed bismuth vanadate for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting
AU - Yoon, Hyun
AU - Mali, Mukund G.
AU - Choi, Jae Young
AU - Kim, Min Woo
AU - Choi, Sung Kyu
AU - Park, Hyunwoong
AU - Al-Deyab, Salem S.
AU - Swihart, Mark T.
AU - Yarin, Alexander
AU - Yoon, Suk Goo
PY - 2015/3/31
Y1 - 2015/3/31
N2 - We demonstrate, for the first time, electrostatically sprayed bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) thin films for photoelectrochemical water splitting. Characterization of these films by X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy analyses revealed the formation of nanotextured pillar-like structures of highly photoactive monoclinic scheelite BiVO4. Electrosprayed BiVO4 nanostructured films yielded a photocurrent density of 1.30 and 1.95 mA/cm2 for water and sulfite oxidation, respectively, under 100 mW/cm2 illumination. The optimal film thickness was 3 μm, with an optimal postannealing temperature of 550 C. The enhanced photocurrent is facilitated by formation of pillar-like structures in the deposit. We show through modeling that these structures result from the electrically-driven motion of submicron particles in the direction parallel to the substrate, as they approach the substrate, along with Brownian diffusion. At the same time, opposing thermophoretic forces slow their approach to the surface. The model of these processes proposed here is in good agreement with the experimental observations.
AB - We demonstrate, for the first time, electrostatically sprayed bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) thin films for photoelectrochemical water splitting. Characterization of these films by X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy analyses revealed the formation of nanotextured pillar-like structures of highly photoactive monoclinic scheelite BiVO4. Electrosprayed BiVO4 nanostructured films yielded a photocurrent density of 1.30 and 1.95 mA/cm2 for water and sulfite oxidation, respectively, under 100 mW/cm2 illumination. The optimal film thickness was 3 μm, with an optimal postannealing temperature of 550 C. The enhanced photocurrent is facilitated by formation of pillar-like structures in the deposit. We show through modeling that these structures result from the electrically-driven motion of submicron particles in the direction parallel to the substrate, as they approach the substrate, along with Brownian diffusion. At the same time, opposing thermophoretic forces slow their approach to the surface. The model of these processes proposed here is in good agreement with the experimental observations.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84961288469&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84961288469&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b00486
DO - 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b00486
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84961288469
VL - 31
SP - 3727
EP - 3737
JO - Langmuir
JF - Langmuir
SN - 0743-7463
IS - 12
ER -