Methanol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol photoelectrochemical oxidation reactions on BiVO₄: Zr,Mo/Pt thin films: A comparative study

Author(s)

Hessel, Cristian ; Moreti, Lauren ; Yukuhiro, Victor Yoiti ; Fernandez, Pablo S. ; Sitta, Elton

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Electrochimica Acta; v. 509, p. 8-pg., 2025-01-01.

Abstract

The green H-2 production plays a key role in the energy transition, however it still needs improvements to be applied in a large scale. The water oxidation reaction, as an anodic process to provide both protons and electrons for H-2 production, possesses kinetic limitations. Therefore, the use of an alternative process like the oxidation of biomass-derivative species is extremely desired to replace water oxidation during H-2 production. In this work, we provide a comparative study of different small organic molecules (methanol, ethylene glycol (EG), and glycerol) as alternatives to water oxidation at pristine BiVO4, Mo-Zr dopped BiVO4, and Pt co-catalyst BiVO4 photoanodes in neutral media. While the band energy diagram and surface morphology are similar for the distinct materials, the presence of Zr-Mo increases the charge carriers density. The presence of Pt acts as co-catalyst for the organic molecules. Regardless of the material employed, the activity order for each organic molecule reaction was: j(water) < j(methanol) < j(EG) < j(glycerol) affeered by both linear potential sweep and chronoamperometry at 1.23 V vs RHE. The presence of both Zr-Mo and Pt increases the photoactivity for the alcohol's oxidation, however the presence of Pt is more advantageous for glycerol oxidation than for other species, maintaining 80 % of activity after 24 h electrolysis. The reactivity of alcohols can be tentatively explained by the greater stability of radicals formed from larger molecules. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/07296-2 - CDMF - Center for the Development of Functional Materials
• Grantee: Elson Longo da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
• FAPESP's process: 23/02929-9 - Boosting green hydrogen production by the electrooxidation of glycerol. Minimizing the use of Platinum Group Metals elements
• Grantee: Pablo Sebastián Fernández
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 22/02300-0 - Hydrogen Peroxide Production During Photo-Electrochemical Water Oxidation Reaction
• Grantee: Cristian Hessel de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 17/11986-5 - Generation and storage of New Energy: bringing technological development for the country
• Grantee: Ana Flávia Nogueira
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research Centers in Engineering Program