Enhancing photoelectrochemical performance of the BiMoO photoanode by ferroelectric polarization regulation.

Photoelectrochemical water splitting provides a promising strategy for converting solar energy into chemical fuels and has attracted extensive interest. Herein, BiMoO nanopillars with large surface areas were fabricated on an ITO-coated glass substrate and their photoelectrochemical properties are enhanced through appropriate manipulation of ferroelectric polarization. The BiMoO photoanode with polarization orientation toward ITO shows an enhanced photocurrent density of 250 μA cm at 1.23 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode, which is 28% higher than that of pristine BiMoO nanopillars without macroscopic polarization. The corresponding depolarization electric field benefits the separation of light-excited electron-hole pairs, thus minimizing the recombination of charge carriers and further enhancing the photocurrent current density. Our work offers a new strategy of BiMoO-based photoelectrochemical devices with great potential of application in the conversion of solar energy into chemical fuels.