One-step preparation of the BiVO4 film photoelectrode

A one-step method of preparing photoelectrochemically active nanostructured BiVO4 films is reported based on thermolysis (500 A degrees C in air) of a polyethylene glycol (PEG300) paint-on precursor solution containing Bi3+ (as nitrate) and VO4 (3-) (as the metavanadate ammonium salt). Films are formed directly on tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) substrates and characterised by electron microscopy (scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)), X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and photoelectrochemistry. The nanocrystalline film exhibited typically up to 52 % incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE) at 1.0 V vs. saturated calomel electrode (SCE) in aqueous 0.5 M Na2SO4 with oxalate, strongly enhancing photocurrents.