Issue 15, 2024

Crystal size dependent photogenerated charge separation on an octahedral bismuth vanadate photocatalyst

Abstract

Although size engineering has been recognized as a useful strategy in elevating the photocatalytic performance, the significant role of crystal size in the charge separation process within semiconductor photocatalysts remains enigmatic. Herein, by taking bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) as a platform, we present dramatic charge separation differences for the fabricated octahedral crystals with varying sizes, ranging from approximately 8 μm to 100 nm. Our findings reveal that in larger-sized octahedral BiVO4 crystals, photogenerated electrons and holes are spatially separated between facets and edges. However, for octahedral BiVO4 with a smaller size of about 100 nm, photogenerated charges are distributed non-selectively across both facets and edges. The diverse spatial distribution of photogenerated charges is presumably attributed to the differences in the magnitude of band bending caused by varying crystal sizes. Remarkably, a nearly seven-fold improvement in charge separation efficiency can be achieved solely by decreasing the size of BiVO4, due to the reduced bulk charge recombination. This work sheds light on the crucial role of crystal size in photogenerated charge separation of semiconductor photocatalysts.

Graphical abstract: Crystal size dependent photogenerated charge separation on an octahedral bismuth vanadate photocatalyst

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
23 Mar 2024
Accepted
18 Jun 2024
First published
19 Jun 2024

Catal. Sci. Technol., 2024,14, 4228-4235

Crystal size dependent photogenerated charge separation on an octahedral bismuth vanadate photocatalyst

Y. Deng, Q. Li, P. Wang, F. Sun, C. Li and R. Li, Catal. Sci. Technol., 2024, 14, 4228 DOI: 10.1039/D4CY00393D

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements