Photocurrent Enhancement Research Articles

Photoelectrochemical immunosensor for chloramphenicol detection based on cation exchange reaction-mediacted photocurrent enhancement of ZnIn2S4/TiO2/Ti3C2 MXene coupled with controlled-release strategy.

Aphotocurrent enhancing photoelectrochemical (PEC) immunosensor was developedfor chloramphenicol (CAP) detection based on cation exchange reaction. The efficient split-type PEC immunosensor combined with controlled-release strategy was established using the ZnIn2S4/TiO2/Ti3C2 MXene (ZIS/T/M) composite as the photoactive material and CuO as the signal response probe. In the presence of target CAP, CuO-labeled CAP antibody (CuO-mAb) was introduced onto the microplate via a competitive-type immunoassay. Under acidic conditions, a large amount of Cu2+ released from CuO-mAb, which triggered a cation exchange reaction with the Zn2+ in ZIS/T/M-modified photoelectrode to generate CuxS, resulting in enhancingthe photocurrent. As a result, the quantitative detection of CAP was achieved by detecting the photocurrent change. Under optimized conditions, the linear range of the sensor was 1pg/mL to 50ng/mL, and the detection limit was 0.24pg/mL. The excellent PEC behavior of ZIS/T/M composite could be attributed to the fact that heterojunction formation improved the migration and separation of thephotocarrier. Additionally, by virtue of the photocurrent-enhancing strategy via cation exchange reaction and the controlled releasing signal amplification method of ion, the PEC immunosensor has high sensitivity and satisfactory accuracy, offering great potential applications in the determinationof CAP.

Strongly enhanced shift current at exciton resonances in a noncentrosymmetric wide-gap semiconductor

Excitons are fundamental quasiparticles that are ubiquitous in photoexcited semiconductors and insulators. Despite causing a sharp and strong photoabsorption near the interband absorption edge, charge-neutral excitons do not yield photocurrent in conventional photovoltaic processes unless dissociated into free charge carriers. Here, we experimentally demonstrate that excitons can directly contribute to photocurrent generation through a nonlinear light−matter interaction in a noncentrosymmetric semiconductor CuI. Epitaxial thin films of CuI exhibit a substantial enhancement of photocurrent at exciton resonance energies even below the bandgap. From the light polarization dependence, this photocurrent is identified to be shift current, a nonlinear photocurrent driven by the change in the geometric Berry phase of electron wave functions upon the optical transition. The shift current at the exciton resonance is much larger than that induced above the band gap by free electron−hole excitation, and their signs are opposite. First-principles calculations elucidate that the sign and magnitude of the exciton shift current are strongly dependent on the strain in the thin film. The present study reveals the crucial role of excitons in enhancing the shift current magnitude and its strain sensitivity, and will open an unprecedented route for efficient manipulation of nonlinear optical effects.

Study on the mechanism of enhancing photocurrent in TiS2 photodetector by vacancy- and substitution-doping

In materials lacking spatial inversion symmetry, the photovoltaic generation effect (PGE) manifests under polarized irradiation without the necessity of a p-n junction and demonstrates high polarization sensitivity across a broad spectrum. This characteristic presents significant potential for applications in low-power two-dimensional optoelectronic devices. In this study, we investigate the electronic structure, optical properties, and PGE in 2H-TiS2 by first-principles simulations, incorporating various types of point defects. We propose a mechanism to enhance photoconductivity in 2H-TiS2 by substitution doping and vacancy defects. When the photodetector is aligned along the armchair direction, the photocurrent exhibits a cosine dependency on the linear polarization angle. We achieved a remarkable enhancement in photocurrent, with a maximum value of 1.33 a20/photon, in contrast to only 0.11 a20/photon for the pure membrane. This improvement can be attributed to the introduction of point defects, which diminish the symmetry of the device and increase its asymmetry, thereby enhancing the photocurrent. Furthermore, we attained high polarization sensitivity, evidenced by a maximum extinction ratio of 262.4. Our findings not only propose an effective mechanism for enhancing PGE by substitution doping but also underscore the promising applications of the two-dimensional 2H-TiS2 monolayer in optoelectronics, particularly in photoelectric detection.

Novel visible-light-driven I− doped Bi2O2CO3 nano-sheets fabricated via an ion exchange route for dye and phenol removal

Here, we report a novel visible-light-driven I− doped Bi2O2CO3 nano-sheet photocatalyst synthesized via a facile ion exchange route at room temperature. This obtained Bi2O2CO3 nano-sheet with I− doping shows several advantages. The specific surface area of I0.875-Bi2O2CO3 is 2.16 times higher than that of Bi2O2CO3, providing more catalytic sites for the degradation reactions. Moreover, a 3.2 times photocurrent enhancement is observed in I0.875-Bi2O2CO3 compared with Bi2O2CO3, producing more photogenerated electron-hole pairs for degradation. The synergistic effect between texture property and photoelectric effect boosts the removal of organic pollutants. Under visible light illumination, I0.875-Bi2O2CO3 displays superior photocatalytic performance for the degradation of methyl orange (MO) and phenol. Notably, a phenol degradation rate, 88%, is achieved by I0.875-Bi2O2CO3 with illuminating for 60 min, which is about 29 times higher than that of pristine Bi2O2CO3. This finding may provide an opportunity to develop a promising I− doped catalyst for organic pollutants removal.

Photocurrent enhancement in dye-sensitized solar cells by polyimide covalent organic frameworks decorated with silver nanoparticles

Covalent organic framework (COF), featuring in highly ordered conjugated hexagonal array architecture, gains much attention due to their application potential in emerging energy and optoelectronic technologies. Polyimide-based COF (PI-COF) has alkaline-hydrolyzable imide units that can serve as adsorption sites for the anchorage of metallic nanoparticles, particularly eye-catching for multifunctionality. In this study, Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) sizing 5 to 20 nm are evenly attached on the surface of spherical PI-COFs through alkaline hydrolysis, ion exchange, and reduction reactions. The Ag-decorated COF (COF@Ag) are doped into the titania photoelectrode of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) to explore its multifunctionality for the photovoltaic performance. The DSSC with the doping of COF@Ag exhibits a power conversion efficiency of 8.03 % under simulated one sun illumination, outperforming that without the doping of COF@Ag (6.86 %) by an enhancement in the photocurrent from 15.14 mA cm−2 to 17.31 mA cm−2. Comprehensive analyses including dye loading, electrochemical impedance, electron kinetics, and light absorption confirms the multifunctionality of COF@Ag. Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of Ag NPs enhances the photocurrent, and host–guest interaction of COFs facilitates the charge injection and suppresses the charge recombination.

Structural Expansion and Enhanced Photocurrent Conversion of Selenido Stannates with Cu+ Ions.

As a means of tuning the electronic properties of tin-chalcogenide-based compounds, we present a strategy for the compositional and structural expansion of selenido stannate frameworks under mild conditions by introducing Cu+ ions into binary anionic Sn/Se aggregates in ionothermal reactions. The variable coordination modes of Cu+-contrasting with tetrahedral {SnSe4} or trigonal bipyramidal {SnSe5} units-and corresponding expansion toward ternary Cu/Sn/Se substructures helped to add another degree of freedom to the nanoarchitectures. As desired, the variation of the structural features was accompanied by concomitant changes of the physical properties. Upon treatment of alkali metal salts of the [SnSe4]4- anion at slightly elevated temperatures (120 or 150 °C) in ionic liquids, we isolated a series of compounds comprising ternary or quaternary cluster molecules or networks of cluster units, (C2C2Im)9Li[Cu10Sn6Se22] (1), (C2C2Im)4[Cu8Sn6Se18] (2), (C2C1Im)3[Cu5Sn3Se10] (3), and (C2C2Im)5[Cu8Sn6Se18F]·(C2C2Im)[BF4] (4; C2C2Im = 1,3-diethyl-imidazolium, C2C1Im = 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium), which were investigated in terms of their optical gaps and photocurrent conversion properties. As illustrated by the synthesis and characterization of an additional salt that does not include Cu+, {(C2C2Im)2[Sn3Se7]}4·{(C2C2Im)[BF4]}2 (5), the significant role of Cu+ in this system was shown to be 3-fold: (a) structural expansion, (b) narrowing of the optical gap, and (c) photocurrent enhancement. By this three-in-one effect, the work offers an in-depth understanding of chalcogenido metalate chemistry with atomic precision.

Pressure‐Tuning Localized Excitons Toward Enhanced Emission, Photocurrent Enhancement and Piezochromism in Unconventional ACI‐Type 2D Hybrid Perovskites

AbstractSimultaneous enhancement of free excitons (FEs) emission and self‐trapped excitons (STEs) emission remains greatly challenging because of the radiative pathway competition. Here, a significant fluorescence improvement, associated with the radiative recombination of both FEs and STEs is firstly achieved in an unconventional ACI‐type hybrid perovskite, (ACA)(MA)PbI4 (ACA=acetamidinium) crystals with {PbI6} octahedron units, through hydrostatic pressure processing. Note that (ACA)(MA)PbI4 exhibits a 91.5‐fold emission enhancement and considerable piezochromism from green to red in a mild pressure interval of 1 atm to 2.5 GPa. The substantial distortion of both individual halide octahedron and the Pb−I−Pb angles between two halide octahedra under high pressure indeed determines the pressure‐tuning localized excitons behavior. Upon higher pressure, photocurrent enhancement is also observed, which is attributed to the promoted electronic connectivity in (ACA)(MA)PbI4. The anisotropic compaction reduces the distance between neighboring organic molecules and {PbI6} octahedra, leading to the enhancement of hydrogen bonding interactions. This work not only offers a deep understanding of the structure‐optical relationships of ACI‐type perovskites, but also presents insights into breaking the limits of luminescent efficiency by pressure‐suppressed nonradiative recombination.

Pressure-Tuning Localized Excitons Toward Enhanced Emission, Photocurrent Enhancement and Piezochromism in Unconventional ACI-Type 2D Hybrid Perovskites.

Simultaneous enhancement of free excitons (FEs) emission and self-trapped excitons (STEs) emission remains greatly challenging because of the radiative pathway competition. Here, a significant fluorescence improvement, associated with the radiative recombination of both FEs and STEs is firstly achieved in an unconventional ACI-type hybrid perovskite, (ACA)(MA)PbI4 (ACA=acetamidinium) crystals with {PbI6} octahedron units, through hydrostatic pressure processing. Note that (ACA)(MA)PbI4 exhibits a 91.5-fold emission enhancement and considerable piezochromism from green to red in a mild pressure interval of 1 atm to 2.5 GPa. The substantial distortion of both individual halide octahedron and the Pb-I-Pb angles between two halide octahedra under high pressure indeed determines the pressure-tuning localized excitons behavior. Upon higher pressure, photocurrent enhancement is also observed, which is attributed to the promoted electronic connectivity in (ACA)(MA)PbI4. The anisotropic compaction reduces the distance between neighboring organic molecules and {PbI6} octahedra, leading to the enhancement of hydrogen bonding interactions. This work not only offers a deep understanding of the structure-optical relationships of ACI-type perovskites, but also presents insights into breaking the limits of luminescent efficiency by pressure-suppressed nonradiative recombination.

Localized surface plasmon resonance-enhanced photoelectrochemical immunoassay based on high-entropy yolk-shell Au@(ZnCdMnGaCu)xS

The yolk-shell structure has become a research hotspot in the field of photocatalysis in recent years due to its stability, movable yolk, and internal voids. However, yolk-shell has not been fully explored and applied in photoelectrochemical (PEC) immunoassays. In this work, a smartphone-based portable PEC immunoassay was constructed by using high-entropy yolk-shell Au@(ZnCdMnGaCu)xS as a photosensitive material, showing satisfactory detection with the assistance of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). Specifically, a typical sandwich reaction introduces a detection antibody modified and labeled with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) into the system with the presence of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Ascorbic acid (AA) content increased with increasing PSA and showed a linear enhancement of photocurrent at PSA concentrations of 0.01–50 ng mL−1 with a limit of detection of 8.94 pg mL−1. Additionally, the proposed assay technology not only provides a portable detection system for the immediate detection of tumor markers, but also offers a promising paradigm for the development of high-entropy materials.

Optimization of photocurrent and surface wettability of new As10Bi30Se30Te30 thin films through annealing at different temperatures for optoelectronic applications

Group V-VI-based metal-doped double chalcogenides are essential in thermoelectric and suitable optoelectronic devices. The present investigation is based on optimising various optical, structural, and electrical behaviours of quaternary As10Bi30Se30Te30 films through thermal annealing at different temperature scales. The structural study by X-ray diffraction (XRD) exhibited the presence of various Bi2Se3, Bi2SeTe2, and Bi2Te3 phases in the annealed films. The crystallinity gradually enhanced after the annealing process. The microstructural modifications in the material have been confirmed through the Raman spectra. The elemental confirmation was verified from the energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectra, whereas the cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy (SEM) view showed the annealing-induced modifications in the films. The granular structure in the films is seen from the surface morphology study. The reduction of the energy gap from 1.36 ± 0.002 eV to 1.26 ± 0.001 eV upon annealing induced the increment in refractive index from 3.08 to 3.15. With annealing, the non-linear refractive index varied from 4.341x10−10 esu to 5.218 x10−10 esu. This indicates the narrowing of the bandgap and enhancement in the non-linear optical response of the material after the annealing process. The 3rd-order nonlinear susceptibility is also increased by annealing, thus making it suitable for nonlinear device applications. Annealing-induced surface change in the material enhances its surface wettability and makes it more hydrophilic. The linear enhancement in photocurrent with the voltage is ohmic and makes it suitable for various optoelectronic applications.

Development of a self-powered mixed halide perovskite-based planar near-ultraviolet photodetector by leveraging the pyro-phototronic effect

Self-powered devices enabled by pyro-phototronic effect (PPE) in mixed halide perovskites was investigated, diverging from conventional approaches that focus on ferroelectric materials and single-halide compositions. The compound (C4H9NH3)2PbI2Br2 was utilized to develop, a simple planar device structure that demonstrated high detectivity in the near-ultraviolet (UV). The proposed device successfully detected photocurrent signals at zero bias voltage in the 405 nm and 532 nm wavelengths, thereby confirming the feasibility of a self-powered photodetector. Notably, the study reveals a significant enhancement in photocurrent, with an increase of up to 23 % at 405 nm, driven by the combined effects of PPE and photovoltaics phenomena present in mixed halide perovskites. These findings present a promising pathway for advancing the design and fabrication of near-UV optoelectronic photodetectors and related devices.

Gold nanorods as performance enhancers in planar perovskite solar cells: A numerical study

The quest for efficient and sustainable energy sources calls for an optimized optical design in photovoltaic technologies, particularly in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). This study focuses on the numerical analysis of integrating plasmonic non-spherical gold nanorods into realistic n-i-p MAPbI3 PSCs. The research addresses the light-harvesting enhancement, especially in near-infrared (NIR), a known limitation of metal halide PSCs. Nanorods were the selected nanostructures, as their longitudinal plasmon resonance has the potential to cover the NIR spectral limitation. The study aims to optimize the size, aspect ratio, orientation, and distance between nanorods, as well as provide insights into practical solutions for the positioning and encapsulation of the nanorods. The findings reveal that the aspect ratio and orientation of the nanorods significantly impact the absorption enhancement. Optimal outcomes are achieved with the vertical orientation of the nanorods, parallel to the stacking direction of the solar cell films. The most promising results from this study demonstrate that the incorporation of gold nanorods with small aspect ratios close to 1.5 leads to the potential enhancement of the perovskite photocurrent by at least 5 % (for spherical nanoparticles the maximum is 4.4 %). Additionally, it is also possible to reduce the layer thickness and the associated lead amount by at least 33 %, while maintaining the solar cell performance.

Study on the enhanced performance of visible photodetector based on hybrid structure between reduced graphene oxide and modified ZnO nanorods

Photodetectors based on Zinc oxide (ZnO) have been widely researched due to their significant advantages such as simple fabrication process, high stability, etc. However, the application range of these devices is still limited in the ultraviolet (UV) region, and their reported performance is not as high as desired. Therefore, this study introduces a simple fabrication process of a photodetector based on the hybrid structure of reduced graphene oxides and zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs) decorated silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). In this RGO/ZnO–Ag structure, the ZnO–Ag serves as a light absorption complex to generate charge carriers through the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect and RGO acts as a transport layer driving the photocarriers for the enhancement of photocurrent. The results show that by decorating Ag NPs onto ZnO NRs, the absorption range of ZnO was widened toward longer wavelengths (the optical band gap reduced from 3.2 eV to 3.12 eV). Besides, by incorporating an RGO transport layer, not only the response and recovery time of the ZnO–Ag device were shortened but also its performance parameters were significantly enhanced (the responsivity increased from 5.32 to 6.58 A W−1 and the photoconductive gain rose from 16.92 to 20.70). This reveals the promise of our innovation in hybrid structure of transport layer and modified ZnO for practical photodetector applications.

Pressure-induced photocurrent enhancement and metallization in van der Waals compound SiTe2

Layered van der Waals (vdW) dichalcogenides are distinguished by their unique crystal structures and high structural tunability, rendering them suitable for applications in optics and optoelectronics. Despite significant processes, some fundamental questions remain in two-dimensional (2D) vdW dichalcogenides, such as clarifying detailed structure–property relationship and further improving the optoelectronic performance. Herein, by applying pressure to tune the crystal structure in 2D vdW dichalcogenide SiTe2, we realized a five orders of magnitude boost in photocurrent at 8 GPa. Such an enhancement is attributed to bandgap narrowing and an increased carrier concentration. Furthermore, bandgap closing and metallization were observed at 15.4 GPa, further suggesting the significant change of electronic structure upon compression. This study not only elucidates the intriguing pressure-induced behavior of SiTe2 but also paves the way for harnessing the unique pressure-responsive properties of 2D vdW dichalcogenides in advanced optoelectronic systems.

Flexible Epitaxial Lift‐Off InGaP/GaAs/InGaAs Triple‐Junction Solar Cells Integrated with Micro/Nanostructured Polymer Film

Epitaxial lift‐off (ELO) InGaP/GaAs/InGaAs inverted metamorphic triple‐junction solar cells are encapsulated with a micro/nanostructured polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film. The microprism array (MPA) is realized on the PDMS film to redirect the light incident on the metal grid line to the active area. Subwavelength structures (SWSs) are also introduced onto the PDMS film to suppress the Fresnel optical reflection loss. Triangular and hemicylindrical shapes are considered for the MPA. The optical responses of the two MPAs are calculated by using ray‐tracing methods. The triangular MPA performs better than the hemicylindrical MPA in terms of light‐redirection efficiency. It is confirmed that 82.0% of the light incident on the metal grid can be harvested by the effect of the triangular MPA and the Fresnel optical reflection loss is reduced effectively by the SWSs. These effects contribute to photocurrent enhancement. The short‐circuit current density and power conversion efficiency of the flexible ELO triple‐junction solar cells integrated with the micro/nanostructured PDMS film improve by 7.0% and 7.1%, respectively, compared with those of the solar cells without the PDMS film. By using the flexible PDMS film for light management, the flexibility of the ELO solar cells is preserved.

High performance of UV photodetectors by integration of plasmonic Ag nanoparticles on GaN

High-performance ultraviolet photodetectors have attracted much attention due to their various potential applications from household to universal. On basis of this, in this work, a high – performance and photoresponse enhancement UV photodetector based on Ag NPs/GaN heterojunction was demonstrated. By incorporating of Ag nanoparticles, light confinement determined by Ag nanostructure offers an effective approach to break through the limitation of the light-mater interaction within the photoactive layers of photodetector. Various size and elemental composition of Ag NPs are fabricated on GaN lead to significant enhancement of photocurrent in UV photodetector. Consequently, an outstanding photoresponsivity of 89 A/W, external quantum efficiency of 2.8 × 103% at low bias voltage of 0.3 V were achieved. The improve photo-response of the Ag NPs-decorated GaN-based photodetector is attributed to the simultaneous effect of strong plasmon absorption, increased injection of hot electrons into the conduction band of GaN. This study will open up the direction to fabricate the high-performance UV photodetector.

Photoelectrocatalytic Water Splitting by Conformal Copper‐Oxide on Hematite Nanostructures: Dependence on Surface‐States

AbstractUnderstanding the pivotal role of surface co‐catalysts is paramount in the strategic design of forthcoming photoelectrodes. However, the nuanced impacts of co‐catalysts remain elusive, particularly in promoting the water oxidation reaction on hematite, especially in connection to surface states denoted as S1 (higher energy) and S2 (lower energy). For this purpose, we tailored two isomorphous hematite nanoarrays with a thin layer of amorphous copper oxide (CuOx), composed of a blend of Cu(I) and Cu(II) species, via a soft electrodeposition technique. Remarkably, we discovered that in pristine hematite (α‐Fe2O3), the S2 state played a pivotal role in activating the CuOx ad‐layer for water oxidation. At lower external biases (approximately 0.9–1.1 VRHE), CuOx served as charge reservoir in equilibrium with the S2 state. Notably, beyond 1.1 VRHE, where the high‐energy holes of the S1 state became available, CuOx was activated indirectly through the equilibrium with the S2 state, and a pronounced enhancement in photocurrent was observed. Conversely, in the case of Ti‐doped hematite (Ti : α‐Fe2O3) devoid of the S2 state, the presence of CuOx resulted in a decline in charge transfer efficiency. Instead of facilitating water oxidation, CuOx adversely affected the S1 surface sites and reduced the charge carrier density in Ti : α‐Fe2O3.

S-scheme heterojunction phthalocyanine/TiO2 photoelectrochemical sensor for innovative glutathione detection.

A novel photoelectrochemical sensor, employing an S-scheme heterojunction of phthalocyanine and TiO2 nanoparticles, has been developed to enable highly sensitive determination of glutathione. By integrating the favorable stability, environmental benignity, and electronic properties of the TiO2 matrix with the unique photoactivity of phthalocyanine species, the designed sensor presents a substantial linear dynamic range and a low detection limit for the quantification of glutathione. The sensitivity is attributed to efficient charge transfer and separation across the staggered heterojunction energy levels, which generates measurable photocurrent signals. Systematic variation of phthalocyanine content reveals an optimal composition that balances light harvesting capacity and electron-hole recombination rates. The incorporation of phosphotungstic acid (PTA) in sample preparation effectively minimizes interference from compounds like L-cysteine and others. Consequently, this leads to an improvement in accuracy through the reduction of impurity levels. Appreciable photocurrent enhancements are observed upon introduction of both oxidized and reduced glutathione at the optimized composite photoanode. Coupled with advantageous features of photoelectrochemical transduction such as simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and resistance to fouling, this sensor holds great promise for practical applications in complex biological media.

Unveiling the critical role of crystallinity in photogenerated hole transfer behavior of TiO2 with an aminoxyl radical mediator

Integrating aminoxyl radical mediators (ARMs) with titanium dioxide (TiO2) based photoelectrochemical (PEC) processes presents a promising approach for achieving mild and sustainable chemical transformations. However, a comprehensive understanding of the interaction between ARMs and PEC processes remains elusive. This study investigates the PEC behavior of photoelectrodes fabricated from single- and polycrystalline TiO2 in the presence of a representative ARM, 4-acetamido-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl radical, in acetonitrile. Interestingly, we observe contrasting PEC behavior: photocurrent enhancement for single-crystalline TiO2 and photocurrent suppression for polycrystalline TiO2. We attribute this difference to subtle variations in surface properties arising from the material’s crystallinity. Photoelectrochemical impedance spectroscopy (PEIS) is employed to gain deeper insights into the influence of surface defects on charge transfer and recombination mechanisms. The PEIS results suggest that an anomalous hole transfer mechanism mediated by surface trap states governs the PEC performance of polycrystalline TiO2.

Surface-tuning TiO2 NR photoanodes using CoOx interlayers and NiFe-LDH cocatalysts for photoelectrochemical wastewater treatment

Increasing multidrug-resistant pathogenic microbial around the world become a global problem, making it imperative to develop effective methods for bacterial inactivation in wastewater. In this study, we propose a multifunctional photoelectrochemical (PEC) system to successfully disinfect microbial cells and degrade orange (II) dyes. CoOx NP were synthesized by spin-coating onto hydrothermally synthesized TiO2 nanorod arrays followed by electrodeposited NiFe-LDH to develop the NiFe-LDH/CoOx NP-TiO2 NRs. Interestingly, spin-coated CoOx NP-TiO2 NRs exhibited a 1.5-fold enhancement in photocurrent (1.384 mA/cm2) than pristine TiO2 NRs (0.92 mA/cm2). A NiFe-layered double hydroxide (LDH) cocatalysts layer further exhibits the maximum photocurrent density of 1.64 mA/cm2 with IPCE of 84.5% at 1.0 VAg/AgCl at 380 nm. Furthermore, NiFe-LDH/CoOx-TiO2 NR photoanodes were effectually employed for photoelectrochemical bacteria disinfection and organic pollutant removals. With NiFe-LDH/CoOx-TiO2 NR, 99% (120 min) bacterial inactivation and 99% (60 min) orange II dye decomposition efficiency was achieved. Superoxide radicals (−O2•), hydroxyl radicals (HO•), and holes (h+) played a critical role in the PEC degradation systems. Due to the synergy between NiFe-LDH cocatalyst and CoOx interlayer, surface water oxidation reactions were accelerated over NiFe-LDH/CoOx NP-TiO2 NRs. The charge transport process in NiFe-LDH/CoOx NP-TiO2 NRs photoanode-based PEC system was proposed in detail.