Bismuth Vanadate with Electrostatically Anchored 3D Carbon Nitride Nano-networks as Efficient Photoanodes for Water Oxidation.

In this study, we report a photoanode consisting of a polymeric/inorganic nanojunction between novel nanostructured 3D C N nano-networks and BiVO substrate. This nanojunction is formed such that 3D C N nano-networks with a positively charged surface are efficiently anchored on the BiVO photoanode with a negatively charged surface. This electrostatic self-assembly can initiate and contribute to an intimate contact at the interfaces, leading to an enhanced photoelectrochemical activity and stability compared with that fabricated by non-electrostatic assembly. The C N nano-network/BiVO photoanode achieved a remarkable photocurrent density of 4.87 mA cm for water oxidation at 1.23 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode) after depositing FeOOH/NiOOH as oxygen-evolution co-catalyst, which is among the highest photocurrent densities reported so far for BiVO -based photoanodes.