TY - JOUR
T1 - Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Using Bismuth/Bismuth Selenide Nanocomposites
AU - Khan, Sumayyah
AU - Sohail, Manzar
AU - Will, Geoffrey
AU - O' Mullane, Anthony
AU - Abdala, Ahmed
AU - Wahab, Md A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s). Chemistry - An Asian Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.
PY - 2025/3/17
Y1 - 2025/3/17
N2 - Solar-driven photoelectrochemical water splitting is a promising method for generating renewable and sustainable energy, as it effectively harnesses sunlight to convert it into chemical bonds. Among the many materials explored for photoelectrochemical water oxidation, metal selenides stand out because of their narrow band gaps. In this study, we successfully developed a high-performance heterojunction nanostructure comprising a p-type Bi/Bi2Se3 photocathode using a facile solvothermal method for efficient water splitting. Various characterization techniques confirmed the structural and optical properties of the fabricated Bi/Bi2Se3 nanocomposite. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns along with Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) images, indicated a single-phase rhombohedral Bi2Se3 crystal structure, along with Bi nanoparticles, confirmed the formation of a Bi/Bi2Se3 nanocomposite, while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) demonstrated the successful formation of heterojunctions. The as-prepared photocatalyst exhibited an impressive photocurrent density of 395 μAcm−2 at 0 V versus RHE, which is approximately eight times superior to Bi2Se3. Detailed electrochemical characterization revealed that the high photocurrent density of Bi/Bi2Se3 is due to improved light harvesting capability, enhanced charge separation, and a suppressed water oxidation back reaction. This innovative approach represents a significant advancement in solar-driven photoelectrochemical water splitting for sustainable energy production.
AB - Solar-driven photoelectrochemical water splitting is a promising method for generating renewable and sustainable energy, as it effectively harnesses sunlight to convert it into chemical bonds. Among the many materials explored for photoelectrochemical water oxidation, metal selenides stand out because of their narrow band gaps. In this study, we successfully developed a high-performance heterojunction nanostructure comprising a p-type Bi/Bi2Se3 photocathode using a facile solvothermal method for efficient water splitting. Various characterization techniques confirmed the structural and optical properties of the fabricated Bi/Bi2Se3 nanocomposite. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns along with Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) images, indicated a single-phase rhombohedral Bi2Se3 crystal structure, along with Bi nanoparticles, confirmed the formation of a Bi/Bi2Se3 nanocomposite, while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) demonstrated the successful formation of heterojunctions. The as-prepared photocatalyst exhibited an impressive photocurrent density of 395 μAcm−2 at 0 V versus RHE, which is approximately eight times superior to Bi2Se3. Detailed electrochemical characterization revealed that the high photocurrent density of Bi/Bi2Se3 is due to improved light harvesting capability, enhanced charge separation, and a suppressed water oxidation back reaction. This innovative approach represents a significant advancement in solar-driven photoelectrochemical water splitting for sustainable energy production.
KW - Bismuth Nanocomposites
KW - Bismuth Selenide
KW - HER Photocatalyst
KW - Hydrogen generation
KW - Photoelectrochemical Water-Splitting
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105001083449
U2 - 10.1002/asia.202400858
DO - 10.1002/asia.202400858
M3 - Article
C2 - 39976241
AN - SCOPUS:105001083449
SN - 1861-4728
VL - 20
JO - Chemistry - An Asian Journal
JF - Chemistry - An Asian Journal
IS - 6
M1 - e202400858
ER -