Nail-like α‑SnWO4 Array Film with Increased Reactive Facets for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

α-SnWO4 is a good candidate for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting due to its suitable band position that straddles the H+/H2 and O2/H2O redox potentials. However, its poor charge transfer ability results in unsatisfactory PEC performance. From the view of material design, a nail-like α-SnWO...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of physical chemistry. C 2022-09, Vol.126 (37), p.15596-15605
Main Authors: Liu, Yang, Qiu, Weixin, He, Gaoshuang, Wang, Keke, Wang, Yanqiu, Chen, Long, Wu, Qing, Li, Wenzhang, Li, Jie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
C: Energy Conversion and Storage
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Summary:α-SnWO4 is a good candidate for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting due to its suitable band position that straddles the H+/H2 and O2/H2O redox potentials. However, its poor charge transfer ability results in unsatisfactory PEC performance. From the view of material design, a nail-like α-SnWO4 array film was constructed by a hydrothermal method assisted by halogen ions, and the corresponding physical and PEC properties are discussed. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were also performed to help understand the effect of halogen ions (Cl–, F–) on the growth and exposure facet of α-SnWO4 and the underlying mechanism of PEC performance. The existence of F– decreases the surface energy of the {100} and {001} facets, directions along which the film has better charge transfer, and the {001} facet has a lower barrier in the PEC water oxidation reaction. The α-SnWO4 film photoanode after facet regulation presents better charge transfer ability, and the oxygen evolution rate is 0.16 μmol cm–2 h–1. In addition, a 1.9-fold photoresponse current is obtained during unbiased PEC water splitting.
ISSN:1932-7447
1932-7455
DOI:10.1021/acs.jpcc.2c04302