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Published on: March 29, 2019
Z-Scheme Photocatalytic Water Splitting on a 2D Heterostructure of Black Phosphorus/Bismuth Vanadate Using Visible
Mingshan Zhu1, Zhichao Sun2, Mamoru Fujitsuka1
1The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (SANKEN), Osaka University, Mihogaoka 8-1, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-0047, Japan.
Abstract:
Spontaneously solar-driven water splitting to produce H2 and O2 , that is, the conversion of solar energy to chemical energy is a dream of mankind. However, it is difficult to make overall water splitting feasible without using any sacrificial agents and external bias. Drawing inspiration from nature, a new artificial Z-scheme photocatalytic system has been designed herein based on the two-dimensional (2D) heterostructure of black phosphorus (BP)/bismuth vanadate (BiVO4 ). An effective charge separation makes possible the reduction and oxidation of water on BP and BiVO4 , respectively. The optimum H2 and O2 production rates on BP/BiVO4 were approximately 160 and 102 μmol g-1 h-1 under irradiation of light with a wavelength longer than 420 nm, without using any sacrificial agents or external bias.
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