Enhanced photoelectrochemical water oxidation of a BiVO4/tetra(amino)phthalocyanine composite photoanode

We present a method for synthesizing a BiVO4 composite photoanode using electrodeposition on FTO glass and show how the incorporation of tetra(amino)phthalocyanine (TAPC) improves its photoelectrochemical water oxidation properties. The conducted photocatalytic tests show that the incorporation of TAPC improved photocurrent generation, electron-hole generation, and separation as well as the stability of the BiVO4/TAPC composite material. The current densities of the pristine BiVO4 and BiVO4/TAPC for photoelectrochemical water oxidation under operational conditions at 1.6 V vs. Ag/AgCl were found to be 1.7 and 3.1 mA cm-2, respectively, which were estimated to be almost twice that of pristine BiVO4. The improved photoelectrochemical water oxidation performance of the BiVO4/TAPC composite may also be attributed to the enhanced surface area and surface redox reaction. These results demonstrate the potential of TAPC as a promising candidate for improving the performance of BiVO4 photoanodes in various applications.