Constructing NiFe-metal-organic frameworks from NiFe-layered double hydroxide as a highly efficient cocatalyst for BiVO4 photoanode PEC water splitting

In this work, NiFe-metal-organic frameworks (NiFe-MOFs) cocatalyst was prepared from NiFe-layered double hydroxide (NiFe-LDH) through ligand assistance and constructed with BiVO4 as a novel composite photoanode. The photocurrent density of BiVO4 modified by NiFe-MOFs is increased by about 300%, and its stability is also remarkable improved. In addition, the incident photon-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) value of NiFe-MOFs/BiVO4 photoelectrode increases to 58% at 410 nm, and both the injection and separation efficiency have also been enhanced. The ameliorated OER performance can be put down to the NiFe-MOFs which significantly lifts the kinetics of water oxidation. These findings provide new ideas for the production of bimetal MOFs for efficiently promoting the performance of photoanode PEC.