Imidazole based cobalt (Co) complex (Co-MIm), constructed by the coordination between a heteroaromatic ligand and a transmission metal that cherishes a low overpotential, strong electronic transmission capability and thereby acts as a cocatalyst in photochemical and electrochemical systems, was exploited here to cover a rod structure BiVO₄ electrode via a simple in-situ deposition method for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. The SEM, TEM and XPS characterization suggest that the nanocomposites are consisted of BiVO₄ nanorods and Co-MIm species. Under optimized conditions, the composite photoelectrode gave a photocurrent density of 3.16 mA cm⁻² at 1.23 V vs. RHE with a cathodic shift of 230 mV in the photocurrent onset potential, ca. 240% enhancement in comparison to that of pure BiVO₄ (1.33 mA cm⁻² at 1.23 V_RHE). In the assistance of Co-MIm, both the charge separation and injection efficiencies of BiVO₄ photoanode were improved.

在这里利用了咪唑基钴（Co）络合物（Co-MIm），它是由杂芳族配体与具有低超电势，强电子传输能力并因此在光化学和电化学系统中充当助催化剂的传输金属之间的配位而构建的。通过用于光电化学（PEC）水分解的简单原位沉积方法覆盖棒状BiVO ₄电极。SEM，TEM和XPS表征表明，纳米复合材料由BiVO ₄纳米棒和Co-MIm物种组成。在最佳条件下，复合光电极的光电流密度为3.16 mA cm ^-2在1.23 V vs. RHE的条件下，光电流起始电势的阴极位移为230 mV。与纯BiVO ₄（在1.23 V _RHE时为1.33 mA cm ^-2）相比，提高了240％。在Co-MIm的帮助下，BiVO ₄光电阳极的电荷分离和注入效率均得到改善。