A self-adaptive semiconductor–liquid junction for highly active and stable solar water splitting

Abstract

Constructing a semiconductor–liquid junction (SCLJ) with efficient charge transfer and excellent anti-photocorrosion is crucial yet challenging for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation. Herein, we propose an effective surface reconstruction strategy to create a self-adaptive SCLJ for significantly enhancing the PEC activity and stability of BiVO₄ photoanodes. It is revealed that a low-valence metal oxide (e.g., NiFeO_x) serrated cocatalyst could be in situ transformed into a uniform and seamless oxygen-vacancy-rich metal (oxy)hydroxide nanolayer during the initial PEC test cycles. Such an intriguing reconstruction creates a self-adaptive SCLJ to promote hole trapping/migration at the semiconductor/cocatalyst junction and improve the water oxidation kinetics as well as photocorrosion resistance at the electrode/electrolyte interface. Remarkably, the self-adaptive SCLJ enables BiVO₄ to show an impressive photocurrent density of 5.1 mA cm⁻² at 1.23 V vs. RHE and superior working durability over 30 h. This study provides a fundamental insight on designing a self-adaptive SCLJ for highly efficient PEC water electrolysis.