bismuth(III) nitrate (Bi(NO3)3·5H2O ≥ 98.0%), vanadyl acetylacetonate (VO(acac)2 ≥
97.0%), potassium ferri(III)cyanide (K3[Fe(CN)6] ≥ 99.0%), and potassium hydroxide (KOH flakes ≥ 90%)
were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich and cobalt chloride hexahydrate
(CoCl2·6H2O ≥ 98.0%) from Fluka
Analytical. Solvents dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO ≥ 99.9%) and ethylene
glycol (ethane-1,2-diol ≥ 99%) were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich.
The buffer solution was prepared from potassium phosphate monobasic
and dibasic (KH2PO4 ≥ 99.0% and K2HPO4 ≥ 98.0%, Sigma-Aldrich). As a hole
scavenger, Na2SO3 from J.T. Baker was used.
High-purity (milliQ) water was obtained with a millipore purification
system (Synergy) and used for all solutions. Fluorine-doped tin oxide
(FTO)-coated glass slides were purchased from Hartford glass (15 Ω/cm2).