PPy/WO3 Co-modified TiO2 Photoanode Based Photocatalytic Fuel Cell for Degradation of Rhodamine B and Electricity Generation Under Visible Light Illumination

In order to inhibit rapid recombination of electron–hole pairs of photoanode and expand its light response wavelength, PPy-14%/WO 3 /TiO 2 /Ti photoanode was prepared. The maximum photocurrent density is 2.31 mA·cm −2 , which is 1.76 times higher than that of WO 3 /TiO 2 /Ti at 1.1 V (vs. SCE). The maximum power density, phontocurrent density and Rhodamine B degradation rate of photocatalytic fuel cell (PFC) with PPy-14%/WO 3 /TiO 2 /Ti photoanode and Cu cathode are 25.48 μW·cm −2 , 0.25 mA·cm −2 and 88.5%, respectively. The excellent performance is mainly due to the good carrier migration rate of PPy and the synergistic effect of PPy/WO 3 /TiO 2 /Ti ternary hybrid electrode, so that photogenerated electrons and holes can accumulate in the conduction band of WO 3 and HOMO of PPy, respectively. This not only expands the light absorption range and enhances the light absorption intensity, but also improves the separation of electron–hole pairs, and finally significantly enhances the Rhodamine B degradation and electricity generation performance of PFC. Graphical Abstract In order to inhibit rapid recombination of electron–hole pairs of photoanode and expand its light response wavelength, PPy-14%/WO 3 /TiO 2 /Ti photoanode was prepared. The excellent performance is mainly due to the good carrier migration rate of PPy and the synergistic effect of PPy/WO 3 /TiO 2 /Ti ternary hybrid electrode, so that photogenerated electrons and holes can accumulate in the conduction band of WO 3 and HOMO of PPy, respectively.