Efficient Semiconductor Research Articles

Construction of a S-scheme Oxygen-deficient CeO2/TiO2 heterojunction for efficient charges separation: Interfacial electronic behavior and mechanism insight

Highly efficient semiconductor materials’ development for photocatalytic degradation of TCH (Tetracycline hydrochloride) in wastewater is of great significance for antibiotic wastewater pollution’s treatment. In this work, an S-type CeO2/TiO2 heterostructure with Ovs defect is successfully constructed, and its photocatalytic performance is evaluated under simulated sunlight. CTO 1-4 (K=0.01525min−1) shows the highest activity and the catalytic activity for 20mg/L TCH is 1.04 and 1.81 times as much as that of TiO2 and CeO2, respectively. The results show that the special transfer path of S-type heterojunction and the strong REDOX effect of retained e− and h+, together with the Ti4+/Ti3+ cycle, promote the separation and transfer of interfacial carriers, thus improving the photocatalytic performance. In addition, the cycle of Ti generates more Ovs. Notably, the work function, XPS and differential charge density results synergically confirm the transfer of electrons from CeO2 to TiO2. According to DFT calculations, the photoexcited electrons migrate from Ti 3d+O 2p hybrid orbital of TiO2 CB to O 2p of CeO2 VB via an S pathway. ·O2-, ·OH and h+ are proven to be the main active free radicals. This work provides new inspirations for the construction of S-type heterojunctions and surface defect engineering’s control.

Trivalent Rare Earth Ion‐Doped Metal Halide Perovskite Near‐Infrared Semiconductors for High‐Performance Optoelectronic Devices

AbstractGiven the extensive application of near‐infrared (NIR) emission, the quest for efficient and versatile NIR semiconductors have attracted tremendous attention. Leveraging trivalent rare earth (RE3+) ions doping, the integration of metal halide perovskites with RE3+ ions makes it easy to achieve NIR‐II emission (1000–1700 nm). However, although showing promise in bioimaging, optical communication, and night vision, enhancing NIR‐II emission intensity to promote further progress in real‐world applications remains a challenge. This review summarizes the recent advancements in RE3+ ion‐doped perovskite NIR semiconductors, and discusses what kind of properties are needed and how to achieve desired optical properties in various applications. The review starts with the synthesis methods for various material types with rich examples. Following this, the mechanisms of strategies for optimizing NIR luminescence performance are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the review highlights their multifunctional applications both as an electrically driven emitter in NIR light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) and as a down‐conversion emitter in photovoltaic devices (PVs) or phosphor‐converted LEDs (pc‐LEDs). Finally, insights on how to fill the gap between current research and future goals are provided. This review aims to provide a deeper understanding of RE3+ ion‐doped NIR light‐emitting perovskite materials, and to promote the exploration of efficient NIR emitters.

The Engineering Screen of Photoactive Nanozymes Based on N-Containing Covalent Organic Frameworks for Antibacterial Application.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a class of highly efficient photocatalytic organic semiconductor materials, which have been developed for the design of photoactive nanozymes. Nitrogen (N)-heterocycles could effectively improve their photocatalytic activity of COFs. However, the systematic exploration of photoactive nanozymes based on N-containing COFs is still lacking. In this work, a series of N-containing Schiff-base linkages of COFs are designed and synthesized to explore high-performance photoactive nanozymes. In addition, Fe ions are introduced through post-modification of COFs, which can not only effectively extend the band-edge absorption of COFs to the red-light region and thereby broaden its biological applications, but also introduce single site of Fe to enrich the types of free radicals in the catalytic products. The activities of photoactive nanozymes based on N-containing COFs are systematically studied, and their catalytic mechanisms are uncovered. Interestingly, it is not as commonly recognized that the more content of N, the better for photocatalysis or the construction of photoactive nanozyme. Furthermore, the selected photoactive nanozymes are used for antibacterial applications, which showed good activity against Escherichia coli.

Fabrication of C and N co-doped CdS semiconductor photocatalysts derived from a novel Cd-MOF for enhancing photocatalytic performance

The narrow bandgap value and long lifetime of photo generated charges make CdS exhibit higher photocatalytic activity compared to other semiconductor catalysts. Given the excellent optoelectronic properties of CdS, a novel 2D cadmium-organic framework (Cd-MOF) was obtained by solvothermal method, which was served as a precursor template in this paper. C and N co-doped CdS-T (T = 600/800/1000) semiconductor materials were successfully prepared by chemical deposition method under different high temperatures. The as-prepared materials had been characterized in detail. Furthermore, the Cd-MOF and CdS-T were used to conduct the photocatalytic activity of organic dyes. Among them, CdS-800 showed excellent photocatalytic degradation effects on five organic dyes, especially on RB with the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 98.87 %, which was significantly improved 6.5 times compared to Cd-MOF (58.23 %). Free radical capture experiments have shown that •O2− play a dominant role in the photocatalytic process. In addition, UV–vis diffuse reflection, photoluminescence (PL), photoelectrochemical (PEC) testing and density functional theory (DFT) calculations had shown that CdS-800 could effectively delay the recombination of photo generated charges, improve the rapid migration and separation of photo generated carriers, and enhance photocatalytic activity. This work provides new ideas for the preparation of efficient and recyclable CdS semiconductor photocatalytic materials.

Regulating Optoelectronic and Thermoelectric Properties of Organic Semiconductors by Heavy Atom Effects.

Heavy atom effects can be used to enhance intermolecular interaction, regulate quinoidal resonance properties, increase bandwidths, and tune diradical characters, which have significant impacts on organic optoelectronic devices, such as organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), organic photovoltaics (OPVs), etc. Meanwhile, the introduction of heavy atoms is shown to promote charge transfer, enhance air stability, and improve device performances in the field of organic thermoelectrics (OTEs). Thus, heavy atom effects are receiving more and more attention. However, regulating heavy atoms in organic semiconductors is still meeting great challenges. For example, heavy atoms will lead to solubility and stability issues (tellurium substitution) and lack of versatile design strategy and effective synthetic methods to be incorporated into organic semiconductors, which limit their application in electronic devices. Therefore, this work timely summarizes the unique functionalities of heavy atom effects, and up-to-date progress in organic electronics including OFETs, OPVs, OLEDs, and OTEs, while the structure-performance relationships between molecular designs and electronic devices are clearly elucidated. Furthermore, this review systematically analyzes the remaining challenges in regulating heavy atoms within organic semiconductors, and design strategies toward efficient and stable organic semiconductors by the introduction of novel heavy atoms regulation are proposed.

A butterfly shape acceptor with rigid skeleton and unique assembly enables both efficient organic photovoltaics and high-speed organic photodetectors

Abstract It remains challenging to design efficient bifunctional semiconductor materials in organic photovoltaic and photodetector devices. Here, we report a butterfly-shaped molecule, named WD-6, which exhibits low energy disorder and small reorganization energy due to its enhanced molecular rigidity and unique assembly with strong intermolecular interaction. The binary photovoltaic device based on PM6:WD-6 achieved an efficiency of 18.41%. Notably, an efficiency of 19.42% was achieved for the ternary device based PM6:BTP-eC9:WD-6. Moreover, the photodetection device based on WD-6 demonstrated an ultrafast response speed (205 ns response time at λ of 820 nm) and a high cutoff frequency of -3 dB (2.45 MHz), surpassing the values of most commercial Si photodiodes. Based on these findings, we show-cased an application of the WD-6-based photodetection device in high-speed optical communication. These results offer valuable insights into the design of organic semiconductor materials capable of simultaneously exhibiting high photovoltaic and photo detective performance.

Pyrene‐4,5,9,10‐Tetraone‐Based Porous Aromatic Frameworks for Photocatalytic Production of Hydrogen Peroxide

AbstractThree pyrene‐4,5,9,10‐tetraone‐based porous aromatic frameworks (PT‐PAFs) are synthesized and their photocatalytic properties for H2O2 production are studied. It is found that the combination of pyrene‐4,5,9,10‐tetraone with anthraquinone affords an efficient PT‐PAF photocatalyst (PAF‐371) for H2O2 production, which achieves production rates of 3791 µmol g−1 h−1 (with sacrificial reagent) and 923 µmol g−1 h−1 (without sacrificial reagent) from water and oxygen under visible light irradiation. This work demonstrates that pyrene‐4,5,9,10‐tetraone molecule could be introduced into PAF materials to construct efficient organic semiconductor photocatalysts for H2O2 production.

Effects of electrolyte flow direction on height difference in electroplated Cu microstructures for fine-pitch RDL

As demand for high-performance and efficient semiconductor chips surges, advanced packaging technologies, such as heterogeneous integration and vertical stacking, are becoming increasingly significant. Among these, the redistribution layer (RDL), essential for connecting chips or packaging elements, is being designed with finer line/space dimensions to meet the growing requirements for I/O access. However, as the width of copper lines decreases to several microns, various fabrication errors arise. Notably, variation in electroplated copper height becomes a significant issue, impacting the overall process. This study analyzes the height deposition differences in copper electroplating that occur at fine-pitch lines (width: 3–11 μm) and proposes a method to mitigate height deviations by adjusting the flow direction of the electrolyte. The results indicate that the deposition height difference between the 3 μm and 11 μm width patterns was reduced from 40% to less than 10%, demonstrating improved reliability in the RDL process by enhancing the uniformity of plating heights across both wide and narrow patterns.

Influence of isochronal heat treatment on spray-deposited mixed phase tin based thin films for ammonia gas sensor applications

The current work applied the spray pyrolysis (SP) approach to coat mixed-phase SnS thin films at 350 °C, and then air annealed at 400,450,500 °C for use in sensor and solar cells applications. A variety of methods were employed to evaluate the structural, morphological, compositional, optical, and electrical characteristics of synthesised mixed-phase films. Films annealed at 500 °C are reported to have bigger crystal sizes, and all deposited SnS films exhibit the orthorhombic phase in addition to tetragonal phase of SnO2, with other visible secondary phases like SnS2,Sn2S3. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman analyses verified the molecular structure and vibrational mode of SnS films. The Scanning electron microscopy tests reveal a consistent, size-varying two-dimensional flake like grain structure, while the optical studies show a variation in optical direct band-gap from 1.79 to 2.75eV. The Hall-effect shows that films subsequently annealed at 400 °C have improved electrical properties. An efficient metal oxide semiconductor gas sensor was developed by applying mixed-SnS film on the conducting side of an indium tin oxide coated glass plate. To examine the sensor selectivity at room temperature, a variety of test gases, such as NO2, H2S, C2H5OH, NH3, were purged at different concentrations. The optimum working temperature and concentration for NH3 selective gas have been determined to be 350 °C and 5 ppm. The sensor sensitivity is found to be maximum at operating temperature of 200 °C towards NH3 gas. An inexpensive, fabricated MOS-gas sensor based on mixed-phase SnS can be easily mass produced and may find potential applications in industrial and environmental monitoring.

Green and regulable synthesis of CdNCN on CdS semiconductor: Atomic-level heterostructures for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

In the realm of photoenergy conversion, the scarcity of efficient light-driven semiconductors poses a significant obstacle to the advancement of photocatalysis, highlighting the critical need for researchers to explore novel semiconductor materials. Herein, we present the inaugural synthesis of a novel semiconductor, CdNCN, under mild conditions, while shedding light on its formation mechanism. By effectively harnessing the [NCN]2⁻ moiety in the thiourea process, we successfully achieve the one-pot synthesis of CdNCN-CdS heterostructure photocatalysts. Notably, the optimal CdNCN-CdS sample demonstrates a hydrogen evolution rate of 14.7 ​mmol ​g−1 ​h−1 under visible light irradiation, establishing itself as the most efficient catalyst among all reported CdS-based composites without any cocatalysts. This outstanding hydrogen evolution performance of CdNCN-CdS primarily arises from two key factors: i) the establishment of an atomic-level N-Cd-S heterostructure at the interface between CdNCN and CdS, which facilitating highly efficient electron transfer; ii) the directed transfer of electrons to the (110) crystal plane of CdNCN, promoting optimal hydrogen adsorption and active participation in the hydrogen evolution reaction. This study provides a new method for synthesizing CdNCN materials and offers insights into the design and preparation of innovative atomic-level composite semiconductor photocatalysts.

Enhanced hydrogen evolution performance of twinned Mn0.65Cd0.35S with Zn-doped cadmium selenide under visible light irradiation

The cadmium manganese sulfide, despite being recognized as a highly efficient photocatalytic semiconductor for hydrogen evolution, faces significant challenges in terms of charge recombination when used solely as a catalyst for photocatalytic hydrogen production. The construction of heterojunction photocatalysts is regarded as one of the effective strategies to enhance the efficiency of photocatalytic hydrogen production. In this work, Zn-doped CdSe was adopted to enhance the photocatalytic active sites of the twinned Mn0.65Cd0.35S. As results, the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of Zn–CdSe-1/T-MCS-40 can reach approximately 47447.15 μmol g−1 after 5 h, representing a 15 times increase compared to Mn0.65Cd0.35S. Besides, the hydrogen evolution rate shows almost no significant attenuation after four consecutive cycles (20 h). The significant achievement can be largely attributed to the successful construction of an S-scheme heterojunction of Zn–CdSe-1/T-MCS-40, which effectively minimized the charge transfer distance and suppressed the recombination of photo-generated electron-hole pairs. Additionally, the incorporation of Zn-doped CdSe significantly expands the response range to visible light, thereby providing a conceptual framework for advancing the design of solar-to-chemical energy conversion and effectively guiding the fabrication of metal sulfide-based photocatalytic heterojunctions.

A XRD Study of the CuAl Layered Double Hydroxide Synthesis Evolution

It is a challenge to determine the active part of a solid phase in chemical process when the purity of the aforesaid is not sufficient and could jeopardize the solid real applications. CuAl LDH phase has been obtained with low percentage of impurities and the intention to use it as photoreduction or photoxidation catalyst and /or templating agent in the design of nanohybrid composites photocatalysts, for CO2 storage that could facilitate its later abatement and/or highly efficient semiconductor material. A set of synthesis were implemented with a mixture of Cu(NO3)22.5H2O and Al(NO3)3.9H2O with Na2CO3 and NaOH using coprecipitation at variable pH. Keeping constant a low CO32-/Cu2+ + Al3+ fraction in all sets, constant basic pH and ageing time (96h) with slight variations in T, resulted in mixed phases of malachite, CuAl LDH and traces of Cu(OH)2. At basic pH and T with different ageing time, similar XRD patterns were measured with noticeable differences, though. When the carbonate ratio, ageing time, and pH were constant (7.50, 96 h, 9.24), modest changes in T generated key dissimilitude in the diffractograms. The resulting band gap energy of this LDH coincided with the visible spectral region energy. A more precise tuning of variables has led to a high degree of optimization of the CuAl LDH and further contributes to comprehend how varied synthesis conditions influence this metastable hydrotalcite Obtention.

Constructing of n‐Type Semiconductor Heterostructures for Efficient Hydrazine‐Assisted Hydrogen Production

AbstractHydrazine‐assisted water electrolysis presents a promising approach toward energy‐efficient hydrogen production. However, the progress of this technology is hindered by the limited availability of affordable, efficient, and durable catalysts. In this study, a feasible strategy is proposed for interface modulation that enables efficient hydrogen evolution and hydrazine oxidation through the construction of n‐type semiconductor heterostructures. The metal–semiconductor contacts are rationally designed using ruthenium nanoclusters and a range of metal oxide (M–O) semiconductor heterostructures, including p‐type semiconductor substrates (NiO, Co3O4, NiCo2O4, CuCo2O4, ZnCo2O4) and n‐type semiconductor substrate (Fe2O3). Intriguingly, Ru nanoclusters supported on p‐type M–O substrates induce a transition from p‐type M–O to n‐type M‐O/Ru. The design of n‐type semiconductor heterostructures can significantly reduce space‐charge regions and increase charge carrier concentration, thereby improving the electrical conductivity of electrocatalysts. Moreover, Ru atoms can serve as highly efficient active sites for hydrogen evolution reaction and hydrazine oxidation reaction. The NiO/Ru heterostructure can drive current densities of 10 and 100 mA cm−2 with only 0.021 and 0.22 V cell voltages for hydrazine‐assisted water electrolysis. This work provides new insights for the development of highly efficient semiconductor catalysts, enabling energy‐saving hydrogen production.

New Strategies for constructing and analyzing semiconductor photosynthetic biohybrid systems based on ensemble Machine learning Models: Visualizing complex mechanisms and yield prediction

Photosynthetic biohybrid systems (PBSs) composed of semiconductor-microbial hybrids provide a novel approach for converting light into chemical energy. However, comprehending the intricate interactions between materials and microbes that lead to PBSs with high apparent quantum yields (AQY) is challenging. Machine learning holds promise in predicting these interactions. To address this issue, this study employs ensemble learning (ESL) based on Random Forest, Gradient Boosting Decision Tree, and eXtreme Gradient Boosting to predict AQY of PBSs utilizing a dataset comprising 15 influential factors. The ESL model demonstrates exceptional accuracy and interpretability (R2 value of 0.927), offering insights into the impact of these factors on AQY while facilitating the selection of efficient semiconductors. Furthermore, this research propose that efficient charge carrier separation and transfer at the bio-abiotic interface are crucial for achieving high AQY levels. This research provides guidance for selecting semiconductors suitable for productive PBSs while elucidating mechanisms underlying their enhanced efficiency.

NH2-MIL-125(Ti-Zr) synergized with WO3 to construct S-Scheme heterojunction photocatalysts for highly efficient degradation of organic dyes and tetracycline in water

The rapid treatment of organic dyes and tetracycline (TC) in industrial wastewater requires highly efficient semiconductor photocatalysts. In this study, the S-Scheme NH2-MIL-125 (Ti-Zr)/ WO3 composite material was successfully synthesized using a two-step hydrothermal method. A comprehensive analysis using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) images revealed that WO3 nanoparticles are intimately anchored on the NH2-MIL-125 (Ti-Zr) nanodisks, forming a closely packed heterostructure. The bandgap values of WO3 and NH2-MIL-125 (Ti-Zr) were determined to be 2.58 eV and 2.67 eV, respectively. Through Response Surface Methodology (RSM), the optimal photocatalytic conditions for the degradation of simulated pollutants in real aqueous environments by the synthesized photocatalysts were explored. Under the full-spectrum irradiation of a 300 W xenon lamp, the TZW-2 composite photocatalyst exhibited a degradation rate of RhB, MB, and TC solutions as high as 95.7 %, 96.7 %, and 93 % within 90 min, respectively. The excellent photocatalytic performance of the composite photocatalyst originates from the establishment of S-scheme heterojunctions between NH2-MIL-125 (Ti-Zr) and WO3, which was confirmed by various characterization techniques such as XPS valence spectra, photoelectrochemistry, and free radical trapping experiments. The excellent stability of the prepared composite photocatalyst was further validated through three cycling test experiments. This work presents new ideas for constructing novel S-Scheme photocatalysts by combining bimetallic cluster MOFs and metal oxides for wastewater treatment.

Designing of potential polymer donors with lower reorganization energy and chemical space exploration in search of materials for efficient organic solar cells

Machine learning with fascinating material predicting capabilities has emerged as a growing throughput artificial intelligence technology to accelerate the design, screening and prediction of material properties. In this study, chemical descriptors are employed to train machine learning (ML) models for the designing of potential polymer donor materials aimed at enhancing the efficiency of organic solar cells (OSCs). To achieve this, ten ML models are evaluated. Among all, the random forest regressor model has shown better predictive ability. In addition, to quantify the importance of features, the numerical scores of the significance of the features are determined through Feature importance analysis. Moreover, 10k new polymers are generated employing the python-based method and their reorganization energies are further predicted using a pre-trained ML model. The assemblage of polymers is done on the basis of the reorganization energy, those with lower reorganization energy being preferred. Furthermore, the synthetic accessibility and thus the structural diversity among the chosen polymers donors are examined, revealing a structural difference among the chosen polymers. This work paves a way for the designing and screening of efficient semiconductors with low reorganization energy to increase the efficiency of OSCs.

A combined experimental and simulation study of multiphase bimetallic iodides semiconductor solar cell

The need of high quantum efficiency and stable semiconductor for the photovoltaics are always highly required. In this work, four phase containing multiphase bimetallic iodide (MPBI) compound was synthesized at room temperature by simple and novel chemical route. Synthesized compound was studied for structural, optical, and morphologic properties. The compound structural and phase confirmation was done by XRD, FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy and TEM studies. Optical properties such as absorption and emission characteristics were studied by UV-Visible spectroscopy and fluorescent spectroscopy respectively. The surface morphology and the elemental composition mapping was carried out using SEM and TEM methods. The detailed characterization inferred that high-temperature stable phase Ag4PbI6 was stabilized at room temperature along with AgI, PbI2 and Ag. From the obtained results, the mechanism of Ag4PbI6 phase formation is proposed and discussed. The synthesized semiconductor compound was studied for solar cell applications and obtained efficiency is 5.14 %. Further, the experimental solar cell results were verified using simulation results. This is one of the very few works which reports on room temperature stabilized high temperature stable Ag4PbI6 phase containing multiphase compound.

Synergistic rapid removal of U(VI) from radioactive wastewater by photoexcitation-driven Z-scheme heterojunction hydrogel

The development of inexpensive and efficient semiconductor catalysts for uranium removal from wastewater via photoreduction remains challenging. Herein, we successfully synthesized Z-scheme heterojunction LaOCl-ZnO-1.5 photocatalyst by ultrasound-assisted in-situ deposition technology followed by immobilization in sodium alginate (SLZ-1.5) by an embedding strategy for the reductive removal of U(VI) from uranium-containing wastewater. The construction of a heterojunction achieves synergistic effects, improving optical response range and photocatalytic efficiency, reducing the loss of photocatalyst through immobilization in the gel structure, and simultaneously solving the difficulty of recycling powder catalysts. SLZ-1.5 demonstrated superior photocatalytic properties for the reduction of U(VI) and rapid reaction kinetics (120 min, 96.1 %) under visible-light irradiation by a xenon lamp. Through the synergistic effect of adsorption and photocatalysis, its optimal removal capacity for U(VI) reached 520.8 mg/g. SLZ-1.5 exhibited great recyclability and excellent selectivity (1.22 × 104 mL/g). In addition, the outstanding performance (98.6 %) of SLZ-1.5 in a dynamic adsorption column under visible-light irradiation validated its potential for practical applications. The photoreduction mechanism indicated that the excellent photocatalytic performance of LaOCl-ZnO-1.5 was enabled by its great light absorption capacity and appropriate bandgap. SLZ-1.5 heterojunction hydrogel is a successful example of a promising adsorption-reduction coupling material that can be applied for the purification and treatment of uranium-containing wastewater.

Effect of ball milling time on Sr0.7Sm0.3Fe0.4Co0.6O2.65 perovskites and their application as semiconductor layers in dye-sensitized solar cells

The practical utilization of TiO2 as a semiconductor in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) has been set back by poor visible light absorption, high charge carrier recombination, and low electrical conductivity, which reduce the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and sustainability of the device. In this respect, perovskites with excellent properties, such as large surface area, good optical properties, high electrical conductivity, and superior electrochemical stability, have recently emerged as promising alternatives capable of overcoming the drawbacks of TiO2. Herein, Sr0.7Sm0.3Fe0.4Co0.6O2.65 (SSFC) perovskites were prepared via the ball milling method at various milling times of 0, 5, and 10 h, and the obtained samples were denoted by SSFC-0, SSCF-5, and SSCF-10, respectively. Increasing the ball milling time led to a significant reduction in nanoparticle size and agglomeration, which, in turn, increased the surface area and electrical conductivity of the samples. As a consequence, the SSFC-10 perovskite exhibited the smallest average particle sizes (18.9 nm) with the largest surface area (61.8 m2 g−1) and minimum defects, which allowed for efficient electron transport, resulting in the best electrical conductivity of 49.8 S cm−1. Ultimately, DSSCs fabricated using SSFC-10 semiconductor layers achieved an optimum PCE of 6.01 %, which is an improvement of 8.67 %, 1.1 %, and 6.56 % for SSFC-0 (3.69 %), SSFC-5 (4.96 %), and TiO2 (5.64 %), respectively. Thus, varying the ball milling time can be used as an effective technique to tailor the physicochemical properties of SSFC to suit desired applications, particularly the fabrication of highly efficient and sustainable DSSC semiconductor layers.

FeOOH Nanosheets Coupled with ZnCdS Nanoparticles for Highly Improved Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dyes and Tetracycline in Water.

Developing a low-cost and highly efficient semiconductor photocatalyst for the decomposition of organic pollutants and antibiotics is highly desirable. Herein, FeOOH nanosheets were prepared using a liquid-phase stirring technique and combined with ZnCdS (ZCS) nanoparticles to construct FeOOH/ZCS nanocomposite photocatalysts. The photocatalytic efficiency of the FeOOH/ZCS nanocomposite was evaluated for the decomposition of various pollutants, including rhodamine B, methylene Blue, and tetracycline. The FeOOH/ZCS nanocomposite exhibited significantly higher photocatalytic performance for the decomposition of various organics. Moreover, the optimized FeOOH/ZCS retained more than 90% of its initial photocatalytic activity even after five successful runs. Radical quenching test and electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis revealed that hydroxyl radicals (•OH) play a dominant role for the decomposition of organics. The FeOOH/ZCS Z-scheme heterojunction significantly facilitates higher charge transfer efficiency and the generation of reactive radicals, resulting in excellent photocatalytic degradation performance. This work offers a new approach to synthesis FeOOH-based photocatalyst for the elimination of organics and antibiotics in water.