Promoted photoelectrochemical activity of BiVO4 coupled with LaFeO3 and LaCoO3

BiVO 4 has emerged as a promising material for solar water splitting. The poor ability of charge transport and separation always limits its performance for photoelectrochemical water splitting. Herein, we coupled n-type BiVO 4 with p-type LaFeO 3 and LaCoO 3 , achieving a photocurrent more than two times as high as bare BiVO 4 at 1.23 V versus a reversible hydrogen electrode. Also, the onset potential was negatively shifted about 260 mV. The promotion of performance is mainly because the space charge layer in BiVO 4 is broadened, and the band bend is enhanced, which facilitates the separation and transport of photo-generated charges.