Aerosol‐Assisted CVD of Bismuth Vanadate Thin Films and Their Photoelectrochemical Properties

Abstract

Thin film bismuth vanadate (BiVO 4 ) photoelectrodes are prepared by aerosol‐assisted (AA)CVD for the first time on fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrates. The BiVO 4 photoelectrodes are characterised by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy (RS), and energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX) spectroscopy and are found to consist of phase‐pure monoclinic BiVO 4 . Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis shows that the thin film is uniform with a porous structure, and consists of particles approximately 75−125 nm in diameter. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of the BiVO 4 photoelectrodes are studied in aqueous 1 M Na 2 SO 4 and show photocurrent densities of 0.4 mA cm −2 , and a maximum incident‐photon‐to‐electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) of 19% at 1.23 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). BiVO 4 photoelectrodes prepared by this method are thus highly promising for use in PEC water‐splitting cells.