Thin-Layer Indium Oxide and Cobalt Oxyhydroxide Cobalt-Modified BiVO4 Photoanode for Solar-Assisted Water Electrolysis

Fabrication of high-performance tandem cell for solar-assisted water cleavage requires an efficient photoanode with excellent bulk charge separation and surface injection. In light of that, we developed a hybrid photoanode using visible light absorber as main scaffold, a thin layer In2O3 middle layer to enhance charge separation in bulk and finally an active CoOOH catalyst as outer decoration for better surface charge injection. Bulk separation was mainly augmented by In2O3 addition, while the addition of CoOOH largely advanced photocurrent onset and elevated injection efficiency. The resultant photoanode delivered a high current density at low applied bias, showing promising prospect for incorporation into tandem cell for solar-assisted water electrolysis.