BiVO4/Bi4V2O10 isometallic heterojunction coupled with FeOOH/NiOOH cocatalysts for efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation

Guozhen Fang; Xiaowen Ruan; Depeng Meng; Minghua Xu; Chunsheng Ding; Chengxiang Huang; Yu Qiu; Shengli Zhao; Kaikai Ba; Tengfeng Xie; Yong Zhou; Haiyan Zhang; Wei Zhang; Shengye Jin; Jing Leng; Sai Kishore Ravi; Xiaoqiang Cui

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2025.02.180

BiVO₄/Bi₄V₂O₁₀ isometallic heterojunction coupled with FeOOH/NiOOH cocatalysts for efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation

Guozhen Fang, Xiaowen Ruan^*, Depeng Meng, Minghua Xu, Chunsheng Ding, Chengxiang Huang, Yu Qiu, Shengli Zhao, Kaikai Ba, Tengfeng Xie, Yong Zhou, Haiyan Zhang, Wei Zhang, Shengye Jin, Jing Leng^*, Sai Kishore Ravi^*, Xiaoqiang Cui^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Energy and Environment

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

Abstract

The four-electron water oxidation reaction in photoelectrochemical systems poses a major challenge to efficiently converting solar energy into chemical energy amid the global energy crisis. Herein, we report a strategy to develop a photoelectrochemical system using BiVO₄/Bi₄V₂O₁₀ isometallic heterojunction photoanodes paired with FeOOH/NiOOH cocatalysts to enhance water oxidation in neutral electrolytes. The results demonstrate that the BiVO₄/Bi₄V₂O₁₀/FeOOH/NiOOH photoanode achieves a photocurrent density of 4.48 mA/cm² at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode and an applied bias photon-to-current efficiency of 1.69 % at 0.63 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode—significantly outperforming bare BiVO₄. This enhanced photoelectrochemical performance is attributed to the identical elemental composition and well-aligned energy band positions of Bi₄V₂O₁₀ and BiVO₄, which minimize charge recombination at the interface. Additionally, the FeOOH/NiOOH double-layer cocatalyst facilitates rapid transfer of photogenerated carriers, as confirmed by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy and transient photovoltage measurements. This approach provides a novel and effective pathway for advancing high-efficiency photoelectrochemical cells. © 2025 Elsevier Inc.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	766-774
Journal	Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
Volume	688
Online published	26 Feb 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2025.02.180
Publication status	Online published - 26 Feb 2025

Funding

This study was supported by the City University of Hong Kong (CityU 9610577), the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (RGC CityU 9048263, RGC 9043739), the Research Matching Grant Scheme (RMGS 9229178), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (12034002, 22279044).

Research Keywords

Bi4V2O10
BiVO4
Carrier dynamics
Isometallic heterojunction
Photoelectrochemical water oxidation

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.jcis.2025.02.180

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Fang, G., Ruan, X., Meng, D., Xu, M., Ding, C., Huang, C., Qiu, Y., Zhao, S., Ba, K., Xie, T., Zhou, Y., Zhang, H., Zhang, W., Jin, S., Leng, J., Ravi, S. K., & Cui, X. (2025). BiVO₄/Bi₄V₂O₁₀ isometallic heterojunction coupled with FeOOH/NiOOH cocatalysts for efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 688, 766-774. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2025.02.180

@article{c616fed71a3a4a498d1e541cefce671a,

title = "BiVO4/Bi4V2O10 isometallic heterojunction coupled with FeOOH/NiOOH cocatalysts for efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation",

abstract = "The four-electron water oxidation reaction in photoelectrochemical systems poses a major challenge to efficiently converting solar energy into chemical energy amid the global energy crisis. Herein, we report a strategy to develop a photoelectrochemical system using BiVO4/Bi4V2O10 isometallic heterojunction photoanodes paired with FeOOH/NiOOH cocatalysts to enhance water oxidation in neutral electrolytes. The results demonstrate that the BiVO4/Bi4V2O10/FeOOH/NiOOH photoanode achieves a photocurrent density of 4.48 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode and an applied bias photon-to-current efficiency of 1.69 % at 0.63 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode—significantly outperforming bare BiVO4. This enhanced photoelectrochemical performance is attributed to the identical elemental composition and well-aligned energy band positions of Bi4V2O10 and BiVO4, which minimize charge recombination at the interface. Additionally, the FeOOH/NiOOH double-layer cocatalyst facilitates rapid transfer of photogenerated carriers, as confirmed by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy and transient photovoltage measurements. This approach provides a novel and effective pathway for advancing high-efficiency photoelectrochemical cells. {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier Inc.",

keywords = "Bi4V2O10, BiVO4, Carrier dynamics, Isometallic heterojunction, Photoelectrochemical water oxidation",

author = "Guozhen Fang and Xiaowen Ruan and Depeng Meng and Minghua Xu and Chunsheng Ding and Chengxiang Huang and Yu Qiu and Shengli Zhao and Kaikai Ba and Tengfeng Xie and Yong Zhou and Haiyan Zhang and Wei Zhang and Shengye Jin and Jing Leng and Ravi, {Sai Kishore} and Xiaoqiang Cui",

year = "2025",

month = feb,

day = "26",

doi = "10.1016/j.jcis.2025.02.180",

language = "English",

volume = "688",

pages = "766--774",

journal = "Journal of Colloid and Interface Science",

issn = "0021-9797",

publisher = "Academic Press Inc.",

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Fang, G, Ruan, X, Meng, D, Xu, M, Ding, C, Huang, C, Qiu, Y, Zhao, S, Ba, K, Xie, T, Zhou, Y, Zhang, H, Zhang, W, Jin, S, Leng, J, Ravi, SK & Cui, X 2025, 'BiVO₄/Bi₄V₂O₁₀ isometallic heterojunction coupled with FeOOH/NiOOH cocatalysts for efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation', Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, vol. 688, pp. 766-774. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2025.02.180

BiVO₄/Bi₄V₂O₁₀ isometallic heterojunction coupled with FeOOH/NiOOH cocatalysts for efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation. / Fang, Guozhen; Ruan, Xiaowen; Meng, Depeng et al.
In: Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, Vol. 688, 15.06.2025, p. 766-774.

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - BiVO4/Bi4V2O10 isometallic heterojunction coupled with FeOOH/NiOOH cocatalysts for efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation

AU - Fang, Guozhen

AU - Ruan, Xiaowen

AU - Meng, Depeng

AU - Xu, Minghua

AU - Ding, Chunsheng

AU - Huang, Chengxiang

AU - Qiu, Yu

AU - Zhao, Shengli

AU - Ba, Kaikai

AU - Xie, Tengfeng

AU - Zhou, Yong

AU - Zhang, Haiyan

AU - Zhang, Wei

AU - Jin, Shengye

AU - Leng, Jing

AU - Ravi, Sai Kishore

AU - Cui, Xiaoqiang

PY - 2025/2/26

Y1 - 2025/2/26

N2 - The four-electron water oxidation reaction in photoelectrochemical systems poses a major challenge to efficiently converting solar energy into chemical energy amid the global energy crisis. Herein, we report a strategy to develop a photoelectrochemical system using BiVO4/Bi4V2O10 isometallic heterojunction photoanodes paired with FeOOH/NiOOH cocatalysts to enhance water oxidation in neutral electrolytes. The results demonstrate that the BiVO4/Bi4V2O10/FeOOH/NiOOH photoanode achieves a photocurrent density of 4.48 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode and an applied bias photon-to-current efficiency of 1.69 % at 0.63 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode—significantly outperforming bare BiVO4. This enhanced photoelectrochemical performance is attributed to the identical elemental composition and well-aligned energy band positions of Bi4V2O10 and BiVO4, which minimize charge recombination at the interface. Additionally, the FeOOH/NiOOH double-layer cocatalyst facilitates rapid transfer of photogenerated carriers, as confirmed by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy and transient photovoltage measurements. This approach provides a novel and effective pathway for advancing high-efficiency photoelectrochemical cells. © 2025 Elsevier Inc.

AB - The four-electron water oxidation reaction in photoelectrochemical systems poses a major challenge to efficiently converting solar energy into chemical energy amid the global energy crisis. Herein, we report a strategy to develop a photoelectrochemical system using BiVO4/Bi4V2O10 isometallic heterojunction photoanodes paired with FeOOH/NiOOH cocatalysts to enhance water oxidation in neutral electrolytes. The results demonstrate that the BiVO4/Bi4V2O10/FeOOH/NiOOH photoanode achieves a photocurrent density of 4.48 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode and an applied bias photon-to-current efficiency of 1.69 % at 0.63 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode—significantly outperforming bare BiVO4. This enhanced photoelectrochemical performance is attributed to the identical elemental composition and well-aligned energy band positions of Bi4V2O10 and BiVO4, which minimize charge recombination at the interface. Additionally, the FeOOH/NiOOH double-layer cocatalyst facilitates rapid transfer of photogenerated carriers, as confirmed by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy and transient photovoltage measurements. This approach provides a novel and effective pathway for advancing high-efficiency photoelectrochemical cells. © 2025 Elsevier Inc.

KW - Bi4V2O10

KW - BiVO4

KW - Carrier dynamics

KW - Isometallic heterojunction

KW - Photoelectrochemical water oxidation

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85218899655&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85218899655&origin=recordpage

U2 - 10.1016/j.jcis.2025.02.180

DO - 10.1016/j.jcis.2025.02.180

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 0021-9797

VL - 688

SP - 766

EP - 774

JO - Journal of Colloid and Interface Science

JF - Journal of Colloid and Interface Science

ER -

BiVO₄/Bi₄V₂O₁₀ isometallic heterojunction coupled with FeOOH/NiOOH cocatalysts for efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation

Abstract

Funding

Research Keywords

UN SDGs

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GRF: Semi-Biological Solar Upcycling of Plastic Waste to Hydrogen Fuel with Promiscuous Hydrolase Hybrids and S-Scheme Photocatalysts

DON_RMG: Abiotic-Biotic Hybrid Catalytic Reactors for Biodegradation of Plastic Waste with Co-Production of Hydrogen and High-Value Chemicals - RMGS

ECS: Photosynthetic Biohybrids with Carbon Dots for Solar Hydrogen Production from Wastewater

Cite this

BiVO4/Bi4V2O10 isometallic heterojunction coupled with FeOOH/NiOOH cocatalysts for efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation

Abstract

Funding

Research Keywords

UN SDGs

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

Fingerprint

Projects

GRF: Semi-Biological Solar Upcycling of Plastic Waste to Hydrogen Fuel with Promiscuous Hydrolase Hybrids and S-Scheme Photocatalysts

DON_RMG: Abiotic-Biotic Hybrid Catalytic Reactors for Biodegradation of Plastic Waste with Co-Production of Hydrogen and High-Value Chemicals - RMGS

ECS: Photosynthetic Biohybrids with Carbon Dots for Solar Hydrogen Production from Wastewater

Cite this

BiVO₄/Bi₄V₂O₁₀ isometallic heterojunction coupled with FeOOH/NiOOH cocatalysts for efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation