Improved glyceraldehyde generation through FeOOH co-catalysts-modified BiVO4 featuring Bi-O-Fe active sites for photoelectrocatalytic glycerol oxidation

Abstract

Heterojunction engineering is crucial for converting glycerol into valuable organic compounds via photoelectrochemistry, but controlling the structure precisely to enhance conversion efficiency remains challenging. In this study, we effectively created a compound photoanode with unique active regions by growing amorphous FeOOH co-catalysts on BiVO4. The results revealed that the Fe2+ ions located on the surface of the co-catalyst FeOOH facilitate the glycerol transformation process, whereas the electron-rich Bi-O-Fe sites contribute significantly to the preferential transformation of glycerol into glyceraldehyde. These sites not only serve as primary reactive centers, catalyzing the adsorption and conversion of glycerol hydroxyl clusters, but also act as repositories for trapping holes. This dual function accelerates the breaking of CH bonds to generate glycerol aldehyde and exhibits excellent desorption capacity, ensuring exceptional product selectivity. This led to exceptional glyceraldehyde production (709mmol m-2 h−1) compared to pristine BiVO4, showcasing a 14.98-fold increase.