Different photoreactivities of different crystal facets on a photocatalyst have commonly been associated with surface reactivity and selective reactant adsorption. This work demonstrates that crystal facet modification greatly affects surface charge population of a photocatalyst. The better photoactivity of {010} dominant BiVO4 is attributed to prompt electron transfer facilitated by the presence of more photogenerated electrons on the larger {010} surface.
Read more in J. Phys. Chem. Lett., 2016, 7, pp 1400–1405
Researchers: Ms Huiling Tan, Dr Xiaoming Wen, Prof Rose Amal and Dr Yun Hau Ng
Teaser image
Schematic illustration of the surface population of two different surface area of BiVO4