Large-Area Printing of Ferroelectric Surface and Super-Domain for Solar Water Splitting

Surface electronic structures of the photoelectrodes determine the activity and efficiency of the photoelectrochemical water splitting, but the control of surface structures and interfacial chemical reactions remain challenging. Here, ferroelectric BiFeO3 is used as a model system to demonstrate a controllable water splitting reaction by large-area constructing the hydroxyls-bonded surface. The up-shift of band edge positions at this ferroelectric surface enables and enhances the holes and electrons transfer through the hydroxyl-active sites, leading to enhanced oxygen or hydrogen evolutions, respectively. Furthermore, the printing of ferroelectric super-domain with microscale checkboard up/down electric fields enhances the photogenerated carriers separation and gives rise to an order of magnitude increase of the photocurrent. This large-area printable ferroelectric surface and super-domain offer an alternative platform for controllable and efficient photocatalysis.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates a controllable water splitting reaction by constructing a hydroxyls-bonded surface on a ferroelectric material. The up-shift of band edge positions at this surface enhances the transfer of holes and electrons, leading to enhanced oxygen or hydrogen evolutions, respectively. Additionally, the introduction of ferroelectric super-domains with electric fields improves the separation of photogenerated carriers, resulting in a significant increase in photocurrent.