Photoelectrochemical properties of BiVO4 film electrode in alkaline solution

A pressed BiVO4 film elect rode with excellent performance has been prepared by a doctor blade method. The photoelectrochemical properties of the elect rode in 011 mol/L NaOH have been studied. The results showed that the photocurrent and stability were better than those in the Na2SO4 electrolyte. Combined with the cyclic voltammograms for the intermediate analysis, the results indicated that the water photooxidation is a nucleophilic attack process involving four holes. The nucleophilic attack reaction is favorable in higher-pH alkaline solution, and the accumulation of peroxide intermediates is decreased. Moreover, when a higher bias is applied in an alkaline solution, the water photooxidation mechanism is more complex, and some bismuth intermediates probably are involved in the process.