Ultrathin NiCo2O4 nanosheets with dual-metal active sites for enhanced solar water splitting of a BiVO4 photoanode

Abstract

Spinel-structured NiCo₂O₄ nanosheets with dual-metal active sites, an ultrathin structure, and abundant oxygen vacancies were decorated for the first time on a nanoporous Mo-doped BiVO₄ photoanode for PEC water oxidation. As expected, the NiCo₂O₄/Mo:BiVO₄ photoanode achieved a remarkable photocurrent density of 4.5 mA cm⁻² at 1.23 V (vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)) under AM 1.5G illumination. These new findings provide a promising strategy for the design of dual-metal OER cocatalysts for enhancing the PEC performances of photoelectrodes.