Novel photoelectrocatalytic/solar cell improvement for organic dye degradation based on simple dip coating WO3/BiVO4 photoanode electrode

Abstract

This work focuses on developing a novel photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) cell combined with a solar cell for the highest efficiency, simplest process, and most energy savings to degrade organic dyes in wastewater. FTO/WO3/BiVO4 photoanode electrode fabrication was developed with the simple layer-by-layer dip coating method, which allows production to be scaled up in the future. The fabricated WO3/BiVO4 shows thin film properties of high porosity, good visible light absorption, and ability to cover the entire FTO substrate area. The developed FTO/WO3/BiVO4 electrode exhibits high oxidation activity and high durability, and it can be applied to the PEC cell prototype by working under the catalytic mechanism of light irradiation and bias potential for organic dye degradation. The novel PEC cell was especially designed to include a solar cell to convert light into electrical energy that is stored in batteries for potential bias at the anode electrode and to supply electricity to the light-irradiated electrode and solar cell panel under the electrical circuit's controller. The result shows that the developed PEC cell prototype can operate on its own without using external power and is able to degrade methylene blue and rhodamine B dyes up to 94% and 93% in 3 h, respectively. This research provides a novel, innovative PEC cell prototype that is highly effective at removing various organic dye substances, uses a simple method, offers an energy saving process, and is a very interesting way to further a large industrial dye wastewater treatment system.