ARPChem, the University of Tokyo and the Tokyo University of Science have jointly developed a photocatalytic sheet composed of bismuth vanadate and a conductive layer of tin and nickel with oxygen generation function. When this photocatalyst sheet is placed in water, a nickel iron mixed oxide (NiFeO x) immobilized on the photocatalyst surface functions as a cocatalyst for water-splitting and the generation of oxygen. The lifespan of oxygen generation was dramatically improving from about 20 hours in the past to more than 1100 hours.
NEDO news release, December 21, 2016
NEDO-supported team develops self-regenerating photocatalyst sheet for artificial photosynthesis