Photoelectrochemical performance of multi-layered BiOx-TiO2/Ti electrodes for degradation of phenol and production of molecular hydrogen in water

► We demonstrated that the electrocatalytic performance of BiOx-TiO2 anodes for the degradation of aqueous phenol could be highly boosted by light irradiation. ► Although BiOx-TiO2 anodes have been originally developed as the electrocatalytic anodes that operate in the absence of light by degeneratively doping Bi in TiO2, the presence of TiO2 made them retain photoelectrocatalytic activity as well. ► Such dual functionality of BiOx-TiO2 electrodes with high synergy effects may be directly used for water treatment with simultaneous hydrogen production from water.