Metal Doping of BiVO4by Composite Electrodeposition with Improved Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation

We report that oxide composite electrodeposition can be used for the facile preparation of metal-doped BiVO4photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical water oxidation. The photoactivity of electrodeposition film was improved by the addition of a small amount of tungstic acid particles during the electrodeposition. These particles are incorporated in the deposit and finally generate tungsten-doped bismuth vanadate. The suspended particles in the plating solution were electrostatically attracted to the cathode and accordingly incorporated into the deposit (electrostatic deposition). WO3nanoparticles (NPs) can be used instead of tungstic acid, to yield a BiVO4with different properties. Enhanced photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation was confirmed via scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) by detecting increased oxygen evolution with using optical fiber incorporating a ring electrode.