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Grant support

MINECO and FEDER (CTQ2016-80058-R, CTQ2015-73028-EXP, SEV 2013-0319, ENE2016-82025-REDT, CTQ2016-81923-REDC), and AGAUR (2017-SGR-1631), are gratefully acknowledged for providing financial support. The project leading to this application has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programmes under the ERC-STG 678565 and the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No 705723. Dr Marcel Risch is gratefully acknowledged for providing and helping with experimental setup.

Analysis of institutional authors

Grau, SergiAuthorCristino, VitoAuthorLlobet, AntoniCorresponding Author

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January 29, 2019
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A hybrid molecular photoanode for efficient light - induced water oxidation

Publicated to:Sustainable Energy & Fuels. 2 (9): 1979-1985 - 2018-09-01 2(9), DOI: 10.1039/c8se00146d

Authors: Grau, S; Berardi, S; Moya, A; Matheu, R; Cristino, V; Vilatela, JJ; Bignozzi, CA; Caramori, S; Gimbert-Suriñach, C; Llobet, A

Affiliations

BIST, Inst Chem Res Catalonia ICIQ, Avda Paisos Catalans 16, Tarragona 43007, Spain - Author
IMDEA Mat Inst, C Eric Kandel 2, Madrid 28906, Spain - Author
Univ Ferrara, Dept Chem & Pharmaceut Sci, Via Mortara 17, I-44121 Ferrara, Italy - Author

Abstract

A hybrid photoanode comprising a multilayered heterostructured WO3/BiVO4 semiconductor and a molecular water oxidation catalyst Ru(tda)(py-pyr)2 (Ru-WOC, where tda is [2,2':6',2 ''-terpyridine]-6,6 ''-dicarboxylato and py-pyr is 4-(pyren-1-yl)-N-(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)butanamide) is described. Both elements are linked by a highly conductive carbon nanotube fibre film (CNTf), which acts as charge transfer and anchoring platform, to which the catalyst is attached through pi-pi stacking interactions. Photoelectrochemical characterization of the resulting electrodes shows that the full photoanode WO3/BiVO4/CNTf/Ru-WOC outperforms the bare WO3/BiVO4 electrode in the potential range 0.3-0.8 V vs. NHE at pH 7, with current densities enhanced by 0.05-0.29 mA cm-2. Bulk electrolysis experiments and oxygen gas measurements show that the enhanced photocurrent is due to the catalytic water oxidation reaction. Detailed electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis is used to investigate the roles of the multiple layers involved in the process. The CNTf/Ru-WOC interface is responsible for increasing charge accumulation and reducing recombination phenomena. The CNTf is able to hold the charge produced from light absorbed by the WO3/BiVO4 semiconductor, as shown by the high capacitive values observed for a WO3/BiVO4/CNTf electrode in the whole range of studied potentials (0.15-0.85 V vs. NHE). Furthermore, Ru-WOC transfers the charge to the solution through fast water oxidation catalysis. This is supported by the low resistivity shown by the full WO3/BiVO4/CNTf/Ru-WOC electrode at low potentials (E < 0.5 V vs. NHE). The robustness and high catalytic rate of Ru-WOC ensures the proper performance of the hybrid photoelectrode device. The latter is particularly important, as it provides opportunities to improve the performance of photoanodes for the water oxidation reaction based on the easy modification of ligands in the molecular catalyst to tune its structural, electronic, and catalytic properties. This is a unique advantage compared with commonly used catalysts based on metal oxides or oxy(hydroxides), which have limited tunability.

Keywords

Bivo4CapacitanceCellsFibersImpedanceOxygen-evolution catalystsPerformancePhotoelectrodesPorous film electrodesSpectroscopy

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Sustainable Energy & Fuels due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2018, it was in position 55/293, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Materials Science, Multidisciplinary.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from the Field Citation Ratio (FCR) of the Dimensions source, it yields a value of: 2.19, which indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: Dimensions Sep 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-09-12, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 22
  • Scopus: 18
  • Google Scholar: 24

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-09-12:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 47 (PlumX).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: http://hdl.handle.net/2072/334657

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Italy.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (Grau Abarca, Sergi) and Last Author (Llobet Damalses, Antoni).

the authors responsible for correspondence tasks have been Berardi, Serena, Gimbert-Surinach, Carolina and Llobet Damalses, Antoni.