Floc-like CNTs jointed with BixFe1−xVO4 nanoparticles for high efficient and stable photoelectrochemical seawater splitting

Abstract

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) seawater splitting is an important strategy of green industrial hydrogen production on the basis of protecting fresh water resources. In this work, a floc-like BixFe1−xVO4 @CNT hetero-nanostructure (HNS) was fabricated as the building blocks of PEC anode and demonstrated a highly enhanced PEC efficiency and stability in seawater. In BixFe1−xVO4 @CNT HNS, amorphous Fe mixed BixFe1−xVO4 nanoparticles (NPs) were served for visible-light absorption, photoelectric conversion, and especially conjunct nodes of carbon nanotubes (CNTs); while CNTs were employed as the high-speed channels for carrier transfer, suppressing electron-hole recombination and leading to a highly improved PEC efficiency. As a result, the as-fabricated floc-like photoanode achieves an applicable PEC photocurrent density of 0.1 mA/cm2 at 1.5 V versus Ag/AgCl in seawater, which demonstrates the promising potential of the floc-like BixFe1−xVO4 @CNT HNS in future photoconversion applications.