All-solid-state Z-scheme BiVO4-Bi6O6(OH)3(NO3)3 heterostructure with prolonging electron-hole lifetime for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen and oxygen evolution

As a visible-light response photocatalyst, BiVO4 is widely used in photocatalytic oxygen evolution. In this study, a novel BiVO4-Bi6O6(OH)(3)(NO3)(3) (BBN) heterostructure fabricates via a simple one-pot hydrothermal approach is certified to effectively restrain the recombination of carriers by efficient spatial charge separation. By employing BBN as a reductive-function photocatalyst, a solid-state Z-scheme is constructed to improve the photo-redox capacity of BiVO4 and hydrogen production is realized in the BiVO4-BBN heterostructure for the first time. The solid-state Z-scheme introduced in the BiVO4-BBN ensures the photoexcited carriers with the powerful redox capacity to participate in the photocatalytic reaction. (C) 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.

Automated summary

In this study, a novel BiVO4-Bi6O6(OH)(3)(NO3)(3) (BBN) heterostructure was fabricated via a simple one-pot hydrothermal approach to effectively restrain carrier recombination and enhance photo-redox capacity, enabling hydrogen production. The solid-state Z-scheme introduced in BBN ensures photoexcited carriers with powerful redox capacity participate in the photocatalytic reaction for the first time.