Mixed-phase BiVO4 nanosheet achieving enhanced photoelectrocatalytic performance

Abstract

The mixed-phase BiVO4 nanosheet with different ratios of solvents was prepared by a one-step hydrothermal method. The viscosity of ethylene glycol helps form a homogeneous thin nanosheet, which can be compared with the microstructure of BiVO4 with different ratios of solvents (deionised water and ethylene glycol). Also, both XRD and Raman diagrams indicate that the synthesis of BiVO4 nanosheet constitutes with a mixture of two crystal types. The mixed-phase BiVO4 possesses higher photocurrent density, smaller electron transport resistance and longer lifetime. Enhanced photoelectrochemical performance can be attributed to the mixed-phase BiVO4 has a large specific surface area, as well as o-BiVO4 (orthorhombic BiVO4) and s-BiVO4 (monocline BiVO4), form heterogeneous junction to promote photogenerated carries separation and reduce the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole.