Carrier Separation Ability Research Articles

Optical SERS sensor with dandelion flower-like Ag/ZnFe2O4 nanotubes on the Si pyramids for detecting trace dyes

It is difficult for metal-modified semiconductor nanotubes to obtain surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates through long-range ordered 3D assembly, which adversely affects both Raman signal enhancement and Raman signal uniformity. Here, ZnFe2O4 nanotubes with Ag nanoparticles modified on the inner and outer walls are induced to grow on the surface of the ordered Si pyramid by ZnO nanonedles as sacrificial templates. In this way, the composite nanotubes (Ag/ZnFe2O4) are assembled into dandelion flower-like 3D aggregates with a periodic arrangement of hexagonal close packing. This 3D ordered SERS substrate based on Ag/ZnFe2O4 nanotubes has excellent anti-reflective performance and carrier separation ability, which is conducive to the enhancement of Raman signal. When the SERS substrate is used as a sensor, it can achieve the single molecule (10−13 M) detection level of Rhodamine 6 G, the enhancement factor (EF) is 3.14 × 109, and the linear fit (R2) of quantitative analysis is as high as 0.998 from 10−13 to 10−4 M. Meanwhile, the long-range ordered arrays on the SERS substrate can ensure the signal uniformity of sensor, which relative standard deviation (RSD) is as low as 3.37 %. In addition, the photocatalytic self-cleaning capability of SERS substrate ensures that the sensor can be reused. Finally, the mechanism of the photogenerated carrier migration of Ag/ZnFe2O4 and its contribution to Raman signal enhancement were analyzed.

Construction of 2D/2D Pd Metallene/COFs System with Strong Internal Electric Field for Outstanding Solar Energy Photocatalysis.

Due to the severe recombination of charge carriers, the photocatalytic activity of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) materials is limited. Herein, through simple ultrasound and stirring processes, the Pd metallene (Pde) is successfully combined with 2D COFs to form Pde/TpPa-1-COF (Pde/TPC) composites. Obviously, a strong internal electric field (IEF) is successfully formed in Pde/TPC hybrid materials, which significantly boosts the separation of photogenerated charges. In addition, the matched 2D structure of the two materials can also lead to electronic coupling effects, plentiful active sites, and shortened carrier migration paths. Thus, the Pde/TPC hybrid materials own extraordinary carrier separation ability with a longer carriers lifetime (3.3 ns for Pde/TPC and 2.7 ns for TPC), which can be proved series of photoelectrochemical and spectroscopic tests. Benefiting from the formation of IEF and the matched 2D structure, the 8% Pde/TPC demonstrates the highest photocatalytic H2 evolution efficiency, with H2 production rate reaching up to 5.85 mmolg-1h-1, which is over 25 times greater than that of pristine COFs, also exceeding that of many reported COFs-based photocatalysts. This research provides new perspectives and innovative approaches to further research on enhancing the internal electric field of COFs to promote their photocatalytic performance.

Co-grown novel S-scheme tubular P–UCN/S-TCN homojunction mediates photocatalysis-PMS activation synergistic system for efficient degradation of antibiotic

The low photogenerated carrier separation and transport ability of the photocatalyst are the main factors inhibiting the photocatalytic activity. The construction of composite photocatalysts can effectively improve the efficiency of photogenerated carriers. However, the problem of reduced photocatalyst stability and catalytic activity due to easy separation of unstable composite interfaces has not been well solved for a long time. Therefore, in this work, a co-growth strategy was put forward to thermally co-polymerize sulfur-containing tubular supramolecular precursors with urea in order to achieve the growth of porous g-C3N4 nanoparticles (P–UCN) on the sulfur-doped tubular g-C3N4 (S-TCN), thus to successfully prepare P–UCN/S-TCN homojunction photocatalysts with chemically bonded stable composite interfaces. Furthermore, a coupled photocatalytic-peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation system was constructed to further promote the photogenerated carrier separation of P–UCN/S-TCN as well as the catalytic activity of the reaction system through the electron donor-acceptor relationship between P–UCN/S-TCN and PMS. Experimental characterization and DFT theoretical calculations together revealed the band gap structural characteristics and the direction of electron flow of the P–UCN/S-TCN S-scheme homojunction, and confirmed the successful construction of a stable chemically bonded homojunction interface. Then the results of catalytic activity test of P–UCN1/S-TCN1 showed a high tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) degradation efficiency (93.5%) within 30 min, and also demonstrated 100% degradation efficiency for Rhodamine B (RhB). This work made important progress in the design of a novel stable S-scheme homojunction interface and provided a reference for the application of photocatalysis-PMS coupling system in environmental remediation.

Low-temperature fabrication of metal-organic-frameworks/TiO2 photoanode for flexible dye-sensitized solar cells

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are utilized to integrate with TiO2 to enhance the solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency. The porphyrin-based MOF PCN-222 is the focus of the study. The MOF/TiO2 composite is deposited on a flexible ITO-PEN (polyethylene naphthalate) substrate under low-temperature (<150 °C) conditions. The resulting flexible DSSC demonstrates faster electron diffusion and improved charge carrier separation ability, achieving an efficiency of 4.41 % under 100 mW cm−2, AM 1.5 global illumination. In comparison to the traditional FTO-glass-based DSSC, this type of flexible DSSC shows great potential for application in wearable electronic devices.

Charge transfer optimization: Role of Cu-graphdiyne/NiCoMoO4 S-scheme heterojunction and Ohmic junction

The effective separation ability of photogenic support plays a crucial role in catalytic hydrogen production. The establishment of heterojunction structure is an effective means to overcome the limited carrier separation ability of some single catalysts. In this paper, Cu, Graphdiyne (GDY) and NiCoMoO4 were successfully coupled to construct a composite photocatalyst NCY-15 ​%. The addition of sheet GDY effectively prevented the aggregation of NiCoMoO4, increased the number of active sites, and enhanced the light-trapping ability of the composite catalyst. The synergistic interaction of S-scheme heterojunction and Ohmic junction heterojunctions between Cu, GDY and NiCoMoO4 provides a unique transfer pathway for electrons, facilitating the rapid separation of photogenerated carriers and accelerating electron transfer, while retaining electrons with strong reducing capacity to participate in hydrogen production, thereby increasing the hydrogen evolution rate. This provides a new way for the development of GDY based photocatalysts.

Enhanced photodegradation performance of Zn-BiPO4 on RhB and TC under the synergistic effect of oxygen vacancies and built-in electric field

In this work, Zn2+ ions doped BiPO4 photocatalyst was successfully prepared by one-step hydrothermal method for the first time. The degradation rates of the optimal sample on RhB and TC solution reached 91.5 % and 81.25 % under simulated sunlight exposure for 3 and 5 hours, respectively, while pure BiPO4 only reached 59.22 % and 49.4 %. The improved photocatalytic performance was due to the synergistic effect of oxygen vacancies and built-in electric field. The EPR test demonstrated the generation of more oxygen vacancies in the optimal sample. Additionally, the electrochemical experiments showed that the photocurrent intensity of the optimal sample was about 3 times than that of pure BiPO4, indicating an enhanced carrier separation and transfer ability after doping Zn2+ ions. Through density functional theory (DFT), the incorporated Zn2+ ions caused the contraction of crystal structure and the redistribution of charges, leading to a built-in electric field. As few studies pay attention to the relationship between oxygen vacancies and the built-in electric field. This study has enlightening significance for the construction of photocatalysts with oxygen vacancies and built-in electric field through doping engineering.

Strongly active and environmentally friendly WO3/C3N4 photocatalysts for converting cyclohexane to cyclohexanone under ambient conditions

C–H bond activation under mild conditions remains a great challenge in the chemical industry, while catalytic cyclohexane oxidation is inefficient and often requires organic solvents and strong oxidants. This study constructed a C3N4/WO3 Z-type heterojunction catalyst to efficiently convert cyclohexane into cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol (KA oil) through aqueous phase oxidation by O2 under visible light irradiation. With strong redox performance and high photogenerated carrier separation ability, the proposed composite catalyst can produce the key active species for cyclohexane oxidation in the H2O–O2 system. The reaction mechanism was clarified through experiment and DFT theory calculation. Cyclohexane was converted into cyclohexyl radical under the action of ·OH, and ·O2− converted most products into cyclohexanone. The catalyst can be recycled under optimized process conditions while reaching a KA oil yield of 139.73 μmol g−1 h−1 and a selectivity of 93.1%.

High molecular oxygen activation capacity of carbon defective g-C3N5 for photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics in water

In this study, a carbon deficient g-C3N5 for photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics in water was prepared by thermal polymerization at 600 °C followed by hydrothermal at 180 °C for 12 h, and named CN600-12. The variation of XRD patterns in the physical phase characterization combined with calculations for energy bands in density functional theory (DFT) presents a method for analyzing defects in g-C3N5. The degradation efficiency of CN600-12 on different antibiotics and dyes reached 90% within 90 min, proving its excellent universal applicability. In addition, the prepared CN600-12 has superior stability and environmental friendliness. The burst experiments and ESR data reflect the high yields of oxygenated reactive groups (·O2– and 1O2). The oxygen adsorption capacity of the materials was calculated by combining DFT, the effect of defect configuration on oxygen adsorption was analyzed, and photoelectrochemical characterization explored their photogenerated carrier separation ability. The results show that introducing carbon defects improves the adsorption capacity of the material for oxygen. At the same time, improving the energy band structure and the separation of photogenerated carriers give the material a strong activation capacity for molecular oxygen. This study provides a feasible reference for solving the problem of antibiotic pollution in water bodies.

Electrical Responsive Coating with a Multilayered TiO2-SnO2-RuO2 Heterostructure on Ti for Controlling Antibacterial Ability and Improving Osseointegration.

The bacterial infection and poor osseointegration of Ti implants could significantly compromise their applications in bone repair and replacement. Based on the carrier separation ability of the heterojunction and the redox reaction of pseudocapacitive metal oxides, we report an electrically responsive TiO2-SnO2-RuO2 coating with a multilayered heterostructure on a Ti implant. Owing to the band gap structure of the TiO2-SnO2-RuO2 coating, electron carriers are easily enriched at the coating surface, enabling a response to the endogenous electrical stimulation of the bone. With the formation of SnO2-RuO2 pseudocapacitance on the modified surface, the postcharging mode can significantly change the surface chemical state of the coating due to the redox reaction, enhancing the antibacterial ability and osteogenesis-related gene expression of the human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Owing to the attraction for Ca2+, only the negatively postcharged SnO2@RuO2 can promote apatite deposition. The in vivo experiment reveals that the S-SnO2@RuO2-NP could effectively kill the bacteria colonized on the surface and promote osseointegration with the synostosis bonding interface. Thus, negatively charging the electrically responsive coating of TiO2-SnO2-RuO2 is a good strategy to endow modified Ti implants with excellent antibacterial ability and osseointegration.

Photothermal catalysis enhances cellulose oxidation kinetics to promote the hydrogen evolution in alkaline solution over Pt/ZnIn2S4

The slow oxidation kinetics of cellulose severely limits photocatalytic cellulose reforming for hydrogen production. Herein, ZIS photocatalysts with different morphologies were prepared and Pt nanoparticles were deposited on their surfaces. The cellulose oxidation kinetics were enhanced through the strategy of photothermal catalysis and pH optimization, which led to efficient hydrogen generation. The ultrathin nanosheet structure endows 1 % Pt/ZIS-300 with a stronger photogenerated carrier separation ability than 1 % Pt/ZIS-0 (nanoflower) and facilitates ·OH generation. Heat can induce the production of ·OH from 1 % Pt/ZIS-300 and enhance the adsorption of 1 % Pt/ZIS-300 to cellulose by changing the surface potential of 1 % Pt/ZIS-300, which promotes the oxidation kinetics of cellulose. As a result, the hydrogen yield of 1 % Pt/ZIS-300 under photothermal catalytic condition (80 ℃) reached 1218 μmol/gcat after 4 h of reaction. Appropriate NaOH concentration contributes to cellulose solubilization and ·OH production, but too high OH− concentration causes a negative shift of the potential on the 1 % Pt/ZIS-300 and cellulose surface, which hinders the mass transfer process and reduces the oxidation kinetics of cellulose.

Enhanced Label-Free Photoelectrochemical Strategy for Pollutant Detection: Using Surface Oxygen Vacancies-Enriched BiVO4 Photoanode.

Label-free photoelectrochemical sensors have the advantages of high sensitivity and a simple electrode structure. However, its performance is greatly limited due to the photoactive materials' weak photoactivity and poor stability. Herein, a robust homogeneous photoelectrochemical (PEC) aptasensor has been constructed for atrazine (ATZ) based on photoetching (PE) surface oxygen vacancies (Ov)-enriched Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) (PE-BVO). The surface of the Ov improves the carrier separation ability of BiVO4, thus providing a superior signal substrate for the sensor. A thiol molecular layer self-assembled on PE-BVO acts as a blocker, while 2D graphene acts as a signal-on probe after release from the aptamer-graphene complex. The fabricated sensor has a wide linear detection range of 0.5 pM to 10.0 nM and a low detection limit of 0.34 pM (S/N = 3) for ATZ. In addition, it can efficiently work in a wide pH range (3-13) and high ionic strength (∼6 M Na+), which provides promising opportunities for detecting environmental pollutants under complex conditions.

Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution of In2S3 by Decorating In2O3 with Rich Oxygen Vacancies.

The hydrogen (H2) evolution rates of photocatalysts suffer from weak oxidation and reduction ability and low photogenerated charge carrier separation efficiency. Herein, by combining band-gap structure optimization and vacancy modulation through a one-step hydrothermal method, In2O3 containing oxygen vacancy (Ov/In2O3) is simply introduced into In2S3 to promote photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Specifically, the change in the sulfur source ratio can induce the coexistence of Ov/In2O3 and In2S3 in a high-temperature hydrothermal process. Under light irradiation, In2S3@Ov/In2O3-0.1 nanosheets hold a remarkable average H2 evolution rate up to 4.04 mmol g-1 h-1, which is 32.14, 11.91, and 2.25-fold better than those of pristine In2S3, In2S3@Ov/In2O3-0.02, and In2S3@Ov/In2O3-0.25 nanosheets, respectively. The ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) diffuse reflectance and photoluminescence (PL) spectra reveal that the formation of Ov/In2O3 in In2S3 optimizes the band-gap structure and accelerates the migration of the photogenerated charge carrier of In2S3@Ov/In2O3-x nanosheets, respectively. Both the enhancement of oxidation and reduction ability and photogenerated charge carrier separation ability are responsible for the remarkable improvement in photocatalytic H2 evolution performance. This work provides a new strategy to prepare a composite of metal sulfide and metal oxide through a one-step hydrothermal method.

Designing multi-functional MoS2/rGO piezocatalysts based on bacteria-catalyst topological interactions and electron pump effects for efficient water disinfection

In catalytic technology, the capability of nanocatalysts to generate reactive species (ROS) and the rapid contact between ROS and target pollutants are critical for the catalytic reaction. Herein, we proposed an effective strategy to construct multi-functional MoS2/rGO piezocatalysts based on bacteria-catalyst topological interactions and electron pump effects, which possessed high carrier separation ability and adhesion to bacteria, ensuring the effective utilization of ROS. Attributed to the unique 3D heterogeneous structure and interface electronic structure, MoS2/rGO could completely inactivate 6.21 log10 cfu mL−1 of E. coli K-12 within 30 min under ultrasonic conditions, significantly faster than pure MoS2. It was demonstrated experimentally and theoretically that the introduction of rGO led to the generation of a large amount of ROS by enhancing the piezoelectric properties and conductivity of MoS2/rGO, while the topological interactions between MoS2/rGO and bacteria facilitated effective bacteria capture, improving the utilization of ROS. Additionally, Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy texting confirmed that rGO acts as an electron pump, effectively attracting electrons from bacterial cells, which disrupted bacterial metabolic processes, increased oxidative stress, and further enhanced the bactericidal effect. The mechanisms of topological interactions and electron pump effects elucidated in this work offer new insights into the design and understanding of efficient bactericidal materials in water purification applications.

Photoselectively modulating main products by changing the wavelength of visible light over D-π-A-D conjugated polymers

The diversity of catalytic products determines the difficulty of selective product modulation, which usually relies on adjusting the catalyst and reaction conditions to obtain different main products selectively. Herein, we synthesized D-π-A-D conjugated organic polymers (TH-COP) using cyclotriphosphonitrile, alkyne, 2H-benzimidazole, and sulfur units as electron donors, π bridges, electron acceptors, and electron donors, respectively. TH-COP exhibited excellent photoinduced carrier separation and redox ability under different visible light wavelengths, and the main products of its CO2 reduction are CH4 (1000.0 μmol g−1) and CO (837.0 μmol g−1) under 400–420 nm and 420–560 nm, respectively. In addition, TH-COP could completely convert phenylmethyl sulfide to methyl phenyl sulfone at 400–420 nm and diphenyl disulfide at 480–485 nm in yields up to 95 %. This study presents a novel strategy for the targeted fabrication of various main products using conjugated polymers by simply changing the wavelength range of visible light.

Innovation of BiOBr/BiOI@Bi5O7I Ternary Heterojunction for Catalytic Degradation of Sodium P-Perfluorous Nonenoxybenzenesulfonate.

As an alternative for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), sodium p-perfluorononyloxybenzene sulfonate (OBS) has been widely used in petroleum, fire-fighting materials, and other industries. In order to efficiently and economically remove OBS contaminations from water bodies, in this study, a ternary heterojunction was constructed by coupling BiOBr and BiOI@Bi5O7I for improving the redox capacity and carrier separation ability of the material and investigating the effect of the doping ratios of BiOBr and BiOI@ Bi5O7I on the performance of the catalysts. Furthermore, the effects on the degradation of OBS were also explored by adjusting different catalyst doping ratios, OBS concentrations, catalyst amounts, and pH values. It was observed that when the concentration of OBS was 50 mg/L, the amount of catalyst used was 0.5 g/L, and the pH was not changed. The application of BiOBr/BiOI@ Bi5O7I consisting of 25% BiOBr and 75% BiOI@ Bi5O7I showed excellent stability and adsorption degradation performance for OBS, and almost all of the OBS in the aqueous solution could be removed. The removal rate of OBS by BiOBr/BiOI@ Bi5O7I was more than 20% higher than that of OBS by BiOI@Bi5O7I and BiOBr when the OBS concentration was 100 mg/L. In addition, the reaction rate constants of BiOBr/BiOI@ Bi5O7I were 2.4 and 10.8 times higher than those of BiOI@ Bi5O7I and BiOBr, respectively. Therefore, the BiOBr/BiOI@ Bi5O7I ternary heterojunction can be a novel type of heterojunction for the efficient degradation of OBS in water bodies.

Synergy of sodium doping and nitrogen defects in carbon nitride for promoted photocatalytic synthesis of hydrogen peroxide

Photocatalytic synthesis of hydrogen peroxide has gradually become a promising method for in-situ production of hydrogen peroxide, which relies on sustainable solar energy. However, the commonly used photocatalyst, i.e., carbon nitride (CN), still suffers from the drawbacks of narrow light absorption range and fast charge recombination. Here, we report a facile method to introduce nitrogen defects into carbon nitride together with sodium ion. By adjusting the ratio of sodium dicyandiamide, the band gap of carbon nitride can be controlled, while the carrier separation and transfer ability of carbon nitride is improved. The modified CN with sodium doping and nitrogen defect (SD-CN) demonstrates outstanding H2O2 production performance (H2O2 yield rate of 297.2 µmol L−1 h−1) under visible light irradiation, which is approximately 9.8 times higher than that of pristine CN. This work deepens the understanding of the coordinated effect of structural defect and element doping of carbon nitride on the photocatalytic H2O2 production performance, and provides new insight into the design of photocatalytic system for efficient production of H2O2.

The A-site and B-site regulation of LaCoO3 nanofiber based on electrospinning for boosting photocatalytic CO2 conversion

Photocatalytic CO2 reduction with perovskite can effectively address both energy and environmental issues. Nevertheless, it remains challenging to prepare photocatalysts with suitable hollow tubular structures in rational. Herein, the La1-xSrxCo1-δFeδO3 nanofiber with a hollow tubular structure was fabricated through an electrospinning method. The hollow nanofiber structure was constructed by doping Sr atoms in the A-site and Fe atoms in the B-site of LaCoO3 perovskite. The characterization of TEM proved that the hollow tubular structural La1-xSrxCo1-δFeδO3 nanofiber exhibited an external diameter of about 95 nm and an internal diameter of about 50 nm. The hollow tubular structural La1-xSrxCo1-δFeδO3 nanofiber showed superior carrier separation ability which could exhibit significant advantages for photocatalytic CO2 reduction. The CH3OH generation rate over the optimized La0.8Sr0.2Co0.7Fe0.3O3 nanofiber could reach 5.25 µmol⋅g−1⋅h−1. This work highlighted an electrospinning strategy to build a hollow tubular structural La1-xSrxCo1-δFeδO3 nanofiber for enhancing photoreduction CO2.

Photocatalytic efficient cleavage of C-C bond in lignin model using water as solvent

Photocatalytic lignin C-C bond (LCCD) cleavage is one possible strategy to promote high-value utilization of lignin. However, it still confronts many difficulties due to the stability of the lignin structure and the high activation energy of LCCD. Herein, a graphitic carbon nitride photocatalyst with the introduction of cyano groups and K+ ions (6MCN) is synthesized. Compared with pure carbon nitride (PCN), 6MCN exhibits superior photogenerated carrier separation ability, excellent sunlight capture ability, and greater oxidation capability. Under simulated sunlight, 6MCN significantly improves the photocatalytic efficiency of LCCD breakage in β-1 lignin models and aromatic vicinal diols (ACD), compared with earlier literature. The improved Cβ radical mechanism and single-electron transfer (SET) pathway are the primary mechanisms in the photocatalytic reaction. Hydroxyl radicals, superoxide radicals, and photogenerated holes are all involved in the photocatalytic cleavage of LCCD. However, hydroxyl radicals, as the most important active radicals, not only trigger the SET mechanism and Cβ radical mechanism but also provide the O and H atoms required for photocatalytic fracture of LCCD, which is very critical to obtain excellent photocatalytic efficiency. This work offers new insights into the photocatalytic breakage of LCCD in β-1 lignin models and ACD through the development of high-performance photocatalysts and the control of radical types.

Rational construction of bromine doped rose-like Bi2O2CO3 microspheres for enhanced visible-light-driven degradation

Optimizing the charge distribution of photocatalysts through halide ion doping has been recognized as an effective approach to enhance photocatalytic activity. Herein, the bromine doped rose-like Bi2O2CO3 microspheres were prepared through a one-step hydrothermal process. The visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) revealed that the bromine doping led to a narrowed band gap of Bi2O2CO3 and optimized band structure. In addition, bromine doping can achieve efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Thus, the photodegradation efficiency of the antibiotic oxytetracycline (OTC) and the dye rhodamine B (RhB) were significantly improved over bromine doped rose-like Bi2O2CO3 microspheres, which is 63.5% for OTC and 97.5% for RhB under visible light irradiation. The kinetic constants of the Br-Bi2O2CO3-2 material are 27.3 times for OTC and 156.2 times for RhB compared with those of pristine Bi2O2CO3. The enhanced photocatalytic performance can be attributed to the optimized carrier separation ability and broadened range of light response. The possible intermediates were identified by mass spectrometry (MS), and the degradation pathways were determined. A gradual decrease in toxicity during degradation was found by the Toxicity Estimation Software Tool (T.E.S.T). This work provides a new idea to construct high-performance photocatalysts for organic pollutants degradation.

Highly efficient photocatalytic H2 evolution and degradation properties over NiO/Mn0.5Cd0.5S S-scheme photocatalyst

Well-designed and high-performance S-scheme photocatalysts for the fabrication of green hydrogen are of significant practical significance in solving the environmental and energy crises. In this study, NiO/Mn0.5Cd0.5S S-scheme heterojunctions were triumphantly prepared by electrostatic adsorption, and the formation of energy band bending and internal electric field at the interfacial contact site between NiO and Mn0.5Cd0.5S resulted in a good photogenerated carrier separation ability and enhanced hydrogen reduction performance and Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation performance. The hydrogen production rate of NiO/Mn0.5Cd0.5S S-scheme heterojunction was enhanced to three folds of the unitary Mn0.5Cd0.5S, with an apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 15.28% at 400 nm and a degradation rate of 91.5%. In addition, the NiO/Mn0.5Cd0.5S S-scheme heterojunction has enhanced and sustainable hydrogen precipitation and RhB degradation performance.