@article{Hu2026, 
author = {Xingsheng Hu and Bing-Hao Wang and Shuang-Feng Yin and Lang Chen},
title = {From sole protection to synergistic water oxidation: A Mo-doped functionalized Nb2O5 layer on BiVO4 photoanodes},
year = {2026},
journal = {Nano Research Energy},
volume = {5},
pages = {e9120256},
keywords = {BiVO4 photoanode, oxygen evolution reaction, Mo-modified Nb2O5 overlayer, functional protective layer},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/NRE.2026.9120256},
doi = {10.26599/NRE.2026.9120256},
abstract = {BiVO4 photoanodes are promising for solar-driven water oxidation, but their performance is often limited by inefficient interfacial hole utilization and inadequate operational stability. Herein, via Mo modification, a conventional passive Nb2O5 protective layer on FeOOH/BiVO4 is converted into a functional interfacial layer, simultaneously enhancing photoelectrochemical activity and stability. The resulting Mo:Nb2O5/FeOOH/BiVO4 photoanode delivers a photocurrent density of 6.27 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE under AM 1.5G illumination and maintains stable operation for over 100 h at 0.7 V. Electrochemical analyses reveal markedly suppressed charge recombination and improved interfacial hole utilization. Combined Kelvin probe force microscopy, in situ light-assisted X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, surface photovoltage measurement and density functional theory calculation demonstrate that Mo incorporation modulates the light-induced interfacial potential redistribution, reconstructs near-Fermi-level electronic states, and promotes a more favorable oxygen evolution reaction pathway. These findings provide an effective strategy for constructing high-performance BiVO4 photoelectrodes by functionalizing a passive protective layer.}
}