Significance of Crystal Morphology Controlling in Semiconductor-Based Photocatalysis: A Case Study on BiVO4 Photocatalyst

Precise control of the morphology and crystalline structure of semiconductor-based photocatalyst is crucial for improving the efficiency of solar energy conversion system. In this-work, taking BiVO4 semiconductor photocatalyst as an example, we investigated the-formation process for 'the regular.decahedron BiVO4 crystals prepared by a: convenient hydrothermal method and found that the synthesis is unctergoing a dissolutionrecrystallization process, concomitantly, the phase was transformed from tetragonal zircon type to nionoclinic sheelite type. By controlling the kinetics of crystal, growth-for BiVO4 through regulating acidity of r.the reaction' solution, we rationally tune the morphology Of monoclinic BiVQ(4) from regular decahedron Crystals to, short rod-like particles,.particularly precisely-modulate the proportion of {010}/{011}' faCets, for the decahedron BiVQ(4). By tuning the-crystalline, phase and morphOlogies of BlVO(4),crystal, we found that the photocatalytic water oxidation activity for the well-defined BiVO4 crystal with specific configuration of {010} and {011} exposed facets can be SQ times of tetragonal NA7.04 particles. Our work shows a convenient strategy for precise Control olthe growth process of semiconductor-based photocatalyst, based on the understanding 'of the crystal morphology evolution mechanism, which will be instructive for constructing semiconductor-based photocatalysts for solar energy conversion.