Synergistic effect of Ag@CN with BiVO4 in a unique Z-type heterojunction for enhancing photoelectrochemical water splitting performance

Abstract

In the realm of photoelectrochemical technology, the enhancement of photogenerated charge carrier separation is pivotal for the advancement of energy conversion performance. Carbon nitride (CN) is established as a photocatalytic material with significant potential and exhibits unique advantages in addressing the issue of rapid recombination of photogenerated carriers. This study utilized an efficient in situ doping method that combined Mo,W-doped BiVO₄ (Mo,W:BVO) with silver-loaded CN (Ag@CN), yielding an all-solid-state Mo,W:BVO/Ag@CN heterostructure that effectively augments the separation efficiency of electron–hole pairs. Through the annealing process, Ag@CN was uniformly coated within the Mo,W:BVO thin film, significantly enlarging the interface contact area to enhance visible light absorption and photogenerated carrier movement. The results of the photoelectrochemical tests showed that the Mo,W:BVO/Ag@CN heterostructure had the highest photocurrent and charge transfer efficiency, which were 6.4 times and 3.6 times higher respectively than those of the unmodified Mo,W:BVO. Our research elucidates the interactions within all-solid-state Z-scheme heterojunctions, outlining strategic approaches for crafting innovative and superior photocatalytic systems.