“…To accomplish this, we examined six samples [referenced as (i–iv) in Figure ] represents before and after PEC reactions for analysis. From Figure a–g, we observed major peaks corresponding to W 4d 5/2 (247.6 eV), W 4d 3/2 (260.3 eV) (Figure a), Bi 4f 5/2 (164.7 eV), Bi 4f 7/2 (159.4 eV) (Figure b), Ti 2p 1/2 (464.7 eV), Ti 2p 3/2 (458.9 eV) (Figure c), V 2p 1/2 (524.4 eV), V 2p 3/2 (516.8 eV) (Figure e), Ni 2p 1/2 (874.1 eV), and Ni 2p 3/2 (856.5 eV) (Figure f). ,− These were attributed to oxidation states of +6, +3, +4, +5, and +3 for W, Bi, Ti, V, and Ni, respectively. ,− The XPS spectra of O 1s in Figure d indicated an insignificant oxidation state of O (−2) with lattice oxygen (metal–O) at 530.5 eV, along with a shoulder at 532 eV confirming surface-adsorbed oxygen (–OOH). These results emphasized that the oxidation state of (a) W, (b) Bi, and (c) Ti remained relatively stable even after extended PEC reactions.…”