Highly efficient AgBr/BiVO4 photoanode for photocatalytic fuel cell

Abstract Silver bromide/bismuth vanadate (AgBr/BiVO 4 ) composite was found to have excellent photosensitive properties. In comparison with bare BiVO 4 counterpart, the AgBr/BiVO 4 photoanode is more favorable to visible-light activation under AM1.5G illumination to achieve higher generation of electron-hole pairs. The AgBr/BiVO 4 composite can also retard recombination of the charges by means of heterojunction electron transport. As a result, the photogenerated electrons and holes have high reduction and oxidation capabilities, respectively. For the first time, AgBr/BiVO 4 photoanode was employed to construct a dual-photoelectrode photocatalytic fuel cell (PFC). The experimental analysis conducted revealed that the AgBr/BiVO 4 composite successfully enhanced the PFC to achieve excellent photoelectrochemical activities.