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Without sacrifice of photovoltaic performances, low-platinum alloy counter electrodes (CEs) are promising in bringing down the fabrication cost of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). We present here the realization of ZnO nanostructure assisted hollow platinum-nickel (PtNi) alloy microstructure CEs with a simple hydrothermal methods and maximization of electrocatalytic behaviors by tuning Zn precursors. The maximal power conversion efficiency is up to 8.74% for the liquid-junction dye-sensitized solar cells with alloyed PtNi 0.41 electrode, yielding a 37.6% cell efficiency enhancement in comparison with pristine solar cell from planar Pt electrode. Moreover, the dissolution-resistant and charge-transfer abilities toward I − /I 3 − redox electrolyte have also been markedly enhanced due to competitive dissolution reactions and alloying effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Enhanced photoelectrochemical water oxidation on Bi 2 WO 6 photoanodes by heterojunction and facet-engineering. • The heterojunction of WO 3 /Bi 2 WO 6 improved charge separation and transfer. • Crystalline {2 0 0} and {1 3 1} orientations on WO 3 /Bi 2 WO 6 and Bi 2 WO 6 films, respectively. • A 1st-order and a 2nd-order charge reaction kinetics were discovered on {2 0 0} and {1 3 1} facets, respectively. Charge separation and transfer kinetics play a significant role in photocatalytic water oxidation, which is sensitive to the crystal facets. Herein, the bismuth tungstate (Bi 2 WO 6) films were used as a model photoanode to investigate how the photogenerated charges react on {1 3 1} and {2 0 0} facets under constantly applied bias in a photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell. On the WO 3 electron transport layer, the Bi 2 WO 6 films have a {2 0 0} orientation while possessing a {1 3 1} orientation on the fluorine-doped tin oxide substrate. It is discovered that {2 0 0} facets on the WO 3 /Bi 2 WO 6 heterojunction display a low overpotential of PEC water oxidation, showing a 1st-order reaction behavior and faster charge transfer rate constant. Differently, water oxidation on the {1 3 1} facet on Bi 2 WO 6 displays a 2nd-order reaction behavior. Further, density functional theory calculations were applied to demonstrate how the rate-determining step and the major formed intermediate correlate with the charge accumulation and reaction orders. The findings of this work shed fundamental light on how to rationally design and precisely modulate surface charge density and reaction kinetics for efficient (photo)electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Enhanced photoelectrochemical water oxidation on anatase TiO 2 nanotubes photoanodes. • Ultrafast charge separation and parallel charge consumption on TiO 2 films. • Increased doping level and negative shift of flat-band potential on TiO 2 nanotube photoanodes. • A 1st-order and a 2nd-order charge reaction kinetics were discovered on TiO 2 nanotube photoanodes. • A parallel reaction model was established coincided with the reaction order transition. Artificial photosynthesis relies on the photoreactions between the chemical molecules and photogenerated charges. The oxygen evolution reactions are regarded as the most difficult procedure, because they are multiple-step reactions with multiple charges transfer. Notwithstanding the extensive study on photoelectrochemical and photochemical water oxidation, understanding how the surface charge reacts with the chemical molecules is limited, especially the reaction kinetics of the surface charges. We prepared anatase TiO 2 nanotubes array and dense polycrystalline TiO 2 films on Ti substrates, where the photocurrent increased about 4–4.5 times on nanotubes compared with the dense films. Moreover, the surface charge reaction rate and the accumulated charge densities were analyzed by transient surface photovoltage and transient photocurrent techniques. It was found a 2nd-order charge reaction behavior could be found when the charge density was high, differently, a 1st-order charge reaction could be observed when the charge density was low. The nanotubes structures would in situ grow from the Ti substrates, which simultaneously enhanced charge separation and transfer kinetics to improve the PEC performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]