Stabilizing BiVO 4 Photoanode in Bicarbonate Electrolyte for Efficient Photoelectrocatalytic Alcohol Oxidation.

In order to expand the application of bismuth vanadate (BiVO 4 ) to the field of photoelectrochemistry, researchers have explored the potential of BiVO 4 in catalyzing or degrading organic substances, potentially presenting a green and eco-friendly solution. A study was conducted to investigate the impact of electrolytes on the photocatalysis of benzyl alcohol by BiVO 4 . The research discovered that, in an acetonitrile electrolyte (pH 9) with sodium bicarbonate, BiVO 4 catalyzed benzyl alcohol by introducing saturated V 5+ . This innovation addressed the issue of benzyl alcohol being susceptible to catalysis in an alkaline setting, as V 5+ was prone to dissolution in pH 9 on BiVO 4 . The concern of the photocorrosion of BiVO 4 was mitigated through two approaches. Firstly, the incorporation of a non-aqueous medium inhibited the formation of active material intermediates, reducing the susceptibility of the electrode surface to photocorrosion. Secondly, the presence of saturated V 5+ further deterred the leaching of V 5+ . Concurrently, the production of carbonate radicals by bicarbonate played a vital role in catalyzing benzyl alcohol. The results show that, in this system, BiVO 4 has the potential to oxidize benzyl alcohol by photocatalysis.