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A standalone bismuth vanadate-silicon artificial leaf achieving 8.4% efficiency for hydrogen production

Author

Listed:
  • Boyan Liu

    (Northwestern Polytechnical University)

  • Xin Wang

    (Northwestern Polytechnical University)

  • Yingjuan Zhang

    (Northwestern Polytechnical University)

  • Mingshan Zhu

    (Jinan University)

  • Chenxin Zhang

    (Xiamen University)

  • Shaobin Li

    (Xiamen University)

  • Yanhang Ma

    (ShanghaiTech University)

  • Wei Huang

    (Northwestern Polytechnical University)

  • Songcan Wang

    (Northwestern Polytechnical University
    Sanhang Science & Technology Building)

Abstract

The development of scalable photoelectrochemical water splitting with high solar-to-hydrogen efficiency and long-term stability is essential while challenging for practical application. Here, we design a BiVO4 photoanode with gradient distributed oxygen vacancies, which induces strong dipole fields to promote charge separation. Growing sea-urchin-like FeOOH cocatalyst on the photoanode leads to a photocurrent density of 7.0 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode and is stable for over 520 h under AM 1.5 G illumination. By integrating with a silicon photovoltaic cell, the standalone artificial leaf achieves a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 8.4%. The scale-up of these artificial leaves up to 441 cm2 in size can deliver a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 2.7% under natural sunlight. Life cycle assessment analysis shows that solar water splitting has little environmental footprint for hydrogen production. Our study demonstrates the possibility of designing metal oxide-based artificial leaves for scalable solar hydrogen production.

Suggested Citation

  • Boyan Liu & Xin Wang & Yingjuan Zhang & Mingshan Zhu & Chenxin Zhang & Shaobin Li & Yanhang Ma & Wei Huang & Songcan Wang, 2025. "A standalone bismuth vanadate-silicon artificial leaf achieving 8.4% efficiency for hydrogen production," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-58102-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58102-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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