Enhancing photoelectrochemical performance of the Bi2MoO6 photoanode by ferroelectric polarization regulation

Nanoscale. 2020 Sep 21;12(35):18446-18454. doi: 10.1039/d0nr02809f. Epub 2020 Sep 2.

Abstract

Photoelectrochemical water splitting provides a promising strategy for converting solar energy into chemical fuels and has attracted extensive interest. Herein, Bi2MoO6 nanopillars with large surface areas were fabricated on an ITO-coated glass substrate and their photoelectrochemical properties are enhanced through appropriate manipulation of ferroelectric polarization. The Bi2MoO6 photoanode with polarization orientation toward ITO shows an enhanced photocurrent density of 250 μA cm-2 at 1.23 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode, which is 28% higher than that of pristine Bi2MoO6 nanopillars without macroscopic polarization. The corresponding depolarization electric field benefits the separation of light-excited electron-hole pairs, thus minimizing the recombination of charge carriers and further enhancing the photocurrent current density. Our work offers a new strategy of Bi2MoO6-based photoelectrochemical devices with great potential of application in the conversion of solar energy into chemical fuels.