Facet-selective construction of Cu2O/Pt/BiVO4 heterojunction arrays for photocatalytic H2 production from water

A Cu2O/Pt/BiVO4 heterojunction was prepared by successively depositing Pt and Cu2O nanoparticles on {010} facets of BiVO4, showing much higher photocatalytic activity in hydrogen evolution than that constructed by random deposition of Cu2O on all facets of BiVO4 particles. Photoluminescence spectroscopy revealed that the facet-selective Cu2O/Pt/BiVO4 arrays effectively promoted charge separation of the BiVO4 host. A band alignment was consequently presented to illustrate the interface charge flow in the heterojunction. This work demonstrates the roles that facets played in semiconductor heterojunctions applied to photocatalytic reactions.

Automated summary

The study demonstrates the higher photocatalytic activity in hydrogen evolution of a Cu2O/Pt/BiVO4 heterojunction prepared by depositing Pt and Cu2O nanoparticles on specific facets of BiVO4. The facet-selective arrays effectively promote charge separation of the BiVO4 host, leading to a proposed band alignment to illustrate the interface charge flow in the heterojunction. This work highlights the significant roles that facets play in semiconductor heterojunctions for photocatalytic reactions.