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Hierarchical WO3@ BiVO4 nanostructures for improved green energy production

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Abstract

Bioenergy production has become a significant and effective technique to overcome the energy crises. In the current study, the photoelectrochemical cell has been used for the hydrogen evolution from biomass (animal waste). Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4)/tungsten trioxide (WO3) nanocomposites were used as photoanodes in the photoelectrochemical cell. BiVO4 (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0%) nanoparticles were fused on the lattice sites of the WO3 via hydrothermal method at 180 °C operating temperature. The properties investigated by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Ultraviolet–Visible (UV–Vis) and photoluminescence (PL) revealed the dispersion of BiVO4 material on the lattice sites of the WO3 nanoparticles. Phase transformations occurred from monoclinic to hexagonal up to BiVO4/WO3 − 1.5 and then orthorhombic for further. Incorporated BiVO4/WO3 − 1.5 shows the lowest band gap with 40–50 nm grain size and performs excellent conversion of the organic waste into electricity. The coupling of BiVO4 with WO3 caused the red shift for photo absorption up to BiVO4/WO3 − 1.5 which resulted in an effective and extraneous efficiency of the sample due to interaction among electron and redox potential established across the electrodes for efficient photocatalytic activity to produce hydrogen gas fuel. This was further confirmed by the BET results with a specific surface area of 83.31 m2/g for the aforementioned sample as the highest value among all the prepared nanocomposites. This work considered as an effective and favorable photocatalyst for the biochemical production of energy applications from biomass and biowastes.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for funding this work through Research Group Project under Grant number (R.G.P. 2/17/40).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Gujrat, Hafiz Hayat Campus, Gujrat, 50700, Pakistan

    M. B. Tahir, Tahir Iqbal & Mohsin Ijaz

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Gujrat, Hafiz Hayat Campus, Gujrat, 50700, Pakistan

    M. Sagir

  3. Department of Physics, College of Science, King Khalid University, P.O.Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia

    Shabbir Muhammad

  4. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia

    Saifeldin M. Siddeeg

  5. Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia

    A. M. Asiri

  6. Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia

    A. M. Asiri

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  1. M. B. Tahir
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  2. M. Sagir
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  4. Saifeldin M. Siddeeg
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Tahir, M.B., Sagir, M., Muhammad, S. et al. Hierarchical WO3@ BiVO4 nanostructures for improved green energy production. Appl Nanosci 10, 1183–1190 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-019-01180-5

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