Full Spectrum Irradiation Research Articles

0-Dimensional/1-dimensional S-scheme Ag2S/BiSI hetero-structured photocatalyst for superb Cr(VI) reduction under full spectrum irradiation

Developing ultraviolet (UV), visible (Vis) and near-infrared (NIR) responsive photocatalysts for Cr(VI) reduction is valuable. Herein, a 0-dimensional/1-dimensional (0D/1D) S-scheme Ag2S/BiSI hetero-structured photocatalyst was successfully synthesized, which displays greatly enhanced Cr(VI) removal activity either under UV, Vis or NIR light irradiation. In-situ characterization technique and theoretical calculation confirm that an internal electric field (IEF), directing from Ag2S to BiSI, exists between the interface, which facilitates the spatial-oriented separation of photoirradiated carriers. Furthermore, the immobilization of Cr2O72− and the transformation from *Cr2O72− to *CrO3H2 on the surface of S-scheme Ag2S/BiSI heterostructure is much more favorable than that on the surface of single Ag2S or BiSI. This work gives a comprehensive insight on the design of full spectrum responsive S-scheme photocatalysts for heavy metal removal.

Fabricating FeS2/Mn0.3Cd0.7S S-scheme heterojunction for enhanced photothermal-assisted photocatalytic H2 evolution under full-spectrum light

To effectively harness solar energy, the rational construction and development of full-spectrum photocatalysts has become an appealing challenge. In this study, a novel full-spectrum responsive FeS2/Mn0.3Cd0.7S (FS/MCS) S-scheme photocatalyst was obtained by attaching FeS2 nanoparticles with excellent photothermal properties on Mn0.3Cd0.7S nanorods. The photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of the optimal FS/MCS composite was 52.017 mmol·g−1·h−1 under full-spectrum irradiation, which was 3.88 times that of pure MCS. Based on the experimental results and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the enhanced photoactivity of FS/MCS was attributed to the synergetic effects of photothermal and S-scheme heterojunction. The photothermal effect of FeS2 could convert the near infrared light to heat, which elevated the local temperature of photocatalyst particles, thereby promoting the photocatalytic reaction. Meanwhile, the S-scheme heterojunction between FeS2 and Mn0.3Cd0.7S accelerated the charge transfer and suppressed the recombination of electron-hole pairs, thereby enabling efficient charge separation while maintaining high redox potentials. This work offers a novel perspective on constructing a full-spectrum-driven photothermal-assisted photocatalytic H2 evolution system though the dual effects of photothermal and heterojunction.

Unveiling the structure–activity relationships of tetracycline degradation by photocatalytic activation peroxymonosulfate of CuBi2O4 microspheres: DFT calculation and mechanism insight

Achieving efficient photocatalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) degradation of pollutants through the regulation strategy of surface microstructure in catalysts remains a challenge. Herein, CuBi2O4 nanorods (CBO NRs) and CuBi2O4 microspheres (CBO Ms) were synthesized by simply regulating the alkalinity of the reaction solvent. Under full–spectrum irradiation, CBO Ms exhibited remarkable photocatalytic performance, removing 92.48% of tetracycline (TC) within 12 min, with the reaction rate constant reaching 0.2135 min−1, which is approximately 2.7 times that of CBO NRs (0.0798 min−1). The exposure of oxygen vacancies on the surface of CBO Ms significantly promoted the generation and migration of photogenerated carriers internally, accelerated charge accumulation at the Cu active sites on the surface, and thereby enhanced the adsorption of CBO Ms on PMS. The charge density difference results confirmed the rapid transference of surface–enriched electrons to the PMS, facilitating further activation of PMS. Radical quenching experiment and EPR testing verified that both radical (SO4•−, •OH) and non–radical (1O2) pathways were involved in the reaction system. This study offers novel insights into the design of catalysts for the photocatalytic activation of PMS to efficiently degrade environmental pollutants.

Construction of core-shell W18O49@ZnIn2S4 hollow hierarchical structure for boosted photothermal-assisted photocatalytic H2 production

The development of photocatalysts that maximize the utilization of the solar spectrum is crucial to achieving efficient photocatalysis. Herein, the synthesized W18O49@ZnIn2S4 hollow hierarchical structure exhibits superior photothermal-assisted hydrogen (H2) photocatalytic performance under full solar spectrum irradiation. Within this photocatalyst design framework, the use of hollow spherical W18O49 exploits the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) effect, resulting in increased light absorption. This imparts additional energy to photogenerate carriers through ZnIn2S4, expediting charge migration and elevating the temperature of the reaction system, consequently facilitating the separation of carriers. Notably, the optimized WO(16h)@ZIS-10 sample shows impressive hydrogen evolution rates of 3.11 mmol g−1 under sunlight exposure and 4.98 mmol g−1 h−1 under composite illumination of AM 1.5G and near-infrared (NIR). Additionally, the study explores the impact of different heating methods on photocatalytic activity in solid-liquid reactions, providing valuable insights into effective solar energy conversion through high-activity solar-assisted photocatalysts.

Plasmonic Pt-PPCN/TiN Ohmic Junction for Photo-Thermo Catalytic Hydrogen Production.

The rational design of photocatalysts for improving the conversion of solar energy into hydrogen is a promising route for achieving carbon neutrality. Herein, we couple plasmonic titanium nitride (TiN) with highly crystalline potassium-doped polymeric carbon nitride (PPCN) to construct a PPCN/TiN ohmic junction. Such an ohmic junction not only broadens the absorption spectrum but also inhibits the recombination of electrons and holes. In addition, Pt nanoparticles are introduced into this ohmic junction to form plasmonic Pt-PPCN/TiN, improving the capture of hot electrons generated by TiN and thereby promoting the dissociation of the O-H bond in H2O. The energy barrier decreases from 0.7 to 0.2 eV. Enhanced separation of carrier, activation of water molecules, and capture of hot electrons are jointly promoting photo-thermo catalytic hydrogen production. Therefore, under full-spectrum irradiation, the hydrogen production rate of Pt-PPCN/TiN reaches 19 085 μmol g-1 h-1. This novel plasmonic photocatalyst is promising for full-spectrum photo-thermo catalytic hydrogen production.

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.

Photothermal-boosted S-scheme heterojunction of α-Fe2O3@NiOx for high-selective reduction of CO2 to CO

Self-heating photothermal catalysis, combining light promotion and thermal activation, offers unique advantages for CO2 conversion. The meticulous design of active sites and light-absorbing materials is crucial for high-performance photothermal catalysts. Herein, a S-Scheme heterostructure composed of NiOx subunits with abundant oxygen vacancies (Vo) bonded with α-Fe2O3 nanoplatelets has been fabricated for solar-driven photothermal catalytic CO2 reduction. Under continuous full-spectrum light irradiation (0.3 W·cm−2), the α-Fe2O3@NiOx hybrids exhibited a CO yield rate of 199.3 μmol∙g−1·h−1 in a gas–solid reaction models with near-unity selectivity. Additionally, the apparent quantum yield for CO production at 420 nm reaches 1.56 %. The prominent activity is attributed to three key factors: (1) The Vo-rich NiOx facilitates the accumulation of photogenerated electrons and activation of chemisorbed CO2. (2) The implemented S-Scheme heterostructures boost interfacial charge-transfer and provide spatially separated catalytic sites for efficient overall CO2 reduction. (3) The substantial photothermal effect of NiOx, which arises from nonradiative exciton recombination, induces local heating of the catalyst, thereby enhancing reaction kinetics. This work provides valuable insights into the utilization of a photothermal-photocatalytic S-Scheme heterojunction system for the photothermal catalytic CO2 reduction.

Selective CO2 Photoreduction into CH4 Triggered by the Synergy between Oxygen Vacancy and Ru Substitution under Near-Infrared Light Irradiation.

Near-infrared (NIR) light powdered CO2 photoreduction reaction is generally restricted to the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers and the supply of active hydrogen (*H). Herein, the study reports a retrofitting hydrogenated MoO3-x (H-MoO3-x) nanosheet photocatalysts with Ru single atom substitution (Ru@H-MoO3-x) fabricated by one-step solvothermal method. Experiments together with theoretical calculations demonstrate that the synergistic effect of Ru substitution and oxygen vacancy can not only inhibit the recombination of photogenerated carriers, but also facilitate the CO2 adsorption/activation as well as the supply of *H. Compared with H-MoO3-x, the Ru@H-MoO3-x exhibit more favorable formation of *CHO in the process of *CO conversion due to the fast *H generation on electron-rich Ru sites and transfer to *CO intermediates, leading to the preferential photoreduction of CO2 to CH4 with high selectivity. The optimized Ru@H-MoO3-x exhibits a superior CO2 photoreduction activity with CH4 evolution rate of 111.6 and 39.0µmol gcatalyst -1 under full spectrum and NIR light irradiation, respectively, which is 8.8 and 15.0 times much higher than that of H-MoO3-x. This work provides an in-depth understanding at the atomic level on the design of NIR responsive photocatalyst for achieving the goal of carbon neutrality.

Surface oxygen vacancies induced by cu-doping in hexagonal ZnMn2O4 nanoplates for high efficiency photothermocatalytic oxidation of toluene

The exploitation of efficient and stable photothermal catalyst for the deep mineralization of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is crucial and challenging. Herein, a photothermal catalyst with abundant oxygen defects was prepared for the first time via Cu-doped ZnMn2O4 hexagonal nanoplate. Experimental characterization results reveal that Cu doping enhances not only the ZnMn2O4 defect contents but also the light absorption and thermal conversion ability of ZnMn2O4. Compared to the undoped ZnMn2O4 (ZMO), the ZnMn2O4 with optimal Cu doping amount (ZMO-4Cu) exhibits excellent photothermal catalytic performance (94% toluene conversion and 87% toluene mineralization) and good resistance to low concentration SO2 under full-spectrum light irradiation. Experimental characterizations and theoretical calculations jointly demonstrated that the oxygen vacancies of ZMO-4Cu surface are more conducive to the adsorption of O2, effectively reduce the oxygen dissociation energy of ZMO-4Cu, thus generating abundant active oxygen species and improving the photothermal catalytic activity for toluene oxidation. In situ IR experiments disclosed that photothermal catalysis is more conducive to the toluene deep oxidation than thermal catalysis. This work provides new insights for the design of high efficiency photothermal catalysis for the deep oxidation of VOCs.

Efficient photothermal mineralization of toluene over MnCo2O4 with different exposed facets: Revealing the role of oxygen vacancy and photo-/thermo- synergistic mechanism

Modulating oxygen vacancies through facet engineering is a potential strategy to enhance activity of photo-/thermo- synergistic catalysis for toluene mineralization. Hence, we synthesized MnCo2O4 catalysts with exposed {01−1} facets (MCO-R), {1−1−2} facets MCO-S), and {1−10} facets (MCO-C), in which the MCO-R with the highest oxygen vacancy concentration exhibited the highest toluene conversion (95.8 %) and CO2 yield (85.5 %) under the full-spectrum light irradiation. The results of various characterizations and DFT calculations confirmed that the oxygen vacancy could accelerate the activation of lattice oxygen and molecule oxygen, thereby enhancing the photothermal catalytic toluene activity of MnCo2O4. Meanwhile, the results of performance evaluations identified that the efficient photothermal mineralization activity of toluene was induced by the photo-/thermo- synergistic catalysis. Besides, the reaction pathway studies by In-situ DRIFTS tests revealed the key role of oxygen vacancy and photo-/thermo- synergistic effects in the reaction progress of photothermal mineralization of toluene over MnCo2O4.

Steering Photooxidation of Methane to Formic Acid over A Priori Screened Supported Catalysts.

Efficient methane photooxidation to formic acid (HCOOH) has emerged as a sustainable approach to simultaneously generate value-added chemicals and harness renewable energy. However, the persistent challenge lies in achieving a high yield and selectivity for HCOOH formation, primarily due to the complexities associated with modulating intermediate conversion and desorption after methane activation. In this study, we employ first-principles calculations as a comprehensive guiding tool and discover that by precisely controlling the O2 activation process on noble metal cocatalysts and the adsorption strength of carbon-containing intermediates on metal oxide supports, one can finely tune the selectivity of methane photooxidation products. Specifically, a bifunctional catalyst comprising Pd nanoparticles and monoclinic WO3 (Pd/WO3) would possess optimal O2 activation kinetics and an intermediate oxidation/desorption barrier, thereby promoting HCOOH formation. As evidenced by experiments, the Pd/WO3 catalyst achieves an exceptional HCOOH yield of 4.67 mmol gcat-1 h-1 with a high selectivity of 62% under full-spectrum light irradiation at room temperature using molecular O2. Notably, these results significantly outperform the state-of-the-art photocatalytic systems operated under identical condition.

Phosphotungstic Acid Clusters Decorated Znln2S4 Nanoflowers as Molecular-Scale S-Scheme Heterojunctions for Simultaneous H2 Evolution and Benzyl Alcohol Upgrading.

Simultaneous utilization of photogenerated electrons and holes to achieve overall redox reactions is attractive but still far from practical application. The emerging step (S)-scheme mechanism has proven to be an ideal approach to inhibit charge recombination and supply photoinduced charges with highest redox potentials. Herein, a hierarchical phosphotungstic acid (H3PW12O40, HPW)@Znln2S4 (ZISW) heterojunction was prepared through one-pot hydrothermal method for simultaneous hydrogen (H2) evolution and benzyl alcohol upgrading. The fabricated HPW-based heterojunctions indicated much enhanced visible-light absorption, promoted photogenerated charge transfer and inhibited charge recombination, owing to hierarchical architecture based on visible-light responsive Znln2S4 microspheres, and S-scheme charge transfer pathway. The S-scheme mechanism was further verified by free-radical trapping electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra. Moreover, the wettability of composite heterojunction was improved by the modification of hydrophilic HPW, contributing to gaining active hydrogen (H+) from water sustainably. The optimal ZISW-30 heterojunction photocatalyst indicated an enhanced hydrogen evolution rate of 27.59 mmol g-1 h-1 in benzyl alcohol (10 vol. %) solution under full-spectrum irradiation, along with highest benzaldehyde production rate is 8.32 mmol g-1 h-1. This work provides a promising guideline for incorporating HPW into S-scheme heterojunctions to achieve efficient overall redox reactions.

Reinforcing the efficiency of photocatalytic CO2 conversion with H2O vapor through the integration of photothermal Cu/C@Bi/C supported on 3D g-C3N4 under full-spectrum solar irradiation

Developing an efficient photocatalyst for CO2 conversion to chemical fuels that maximizes the utilization of solar energy, particularly near-infrared light, remains a persistent challenge. Meanwhile, it is difficult to suppress the H2 evolution during the photocatalytic process. Herein, Cu/C@Bi/C grafted on the surface of 3D g-C3N4 (NCN) can serve as a highly durable and active catalyst for photothermal synergistic catalytic CO2 reduction under full-spectrum solar irradiation in solid-liquid-gas three-phase interfaces, wherein the Cu/C@Bi/C serves as a harvesting-near-infrared light nanoreactor and an electron transport bridge for the enhancement of the interface local temperature and the efficient transfer of photoinduced electrons. As a result, the hybrid catalyst shows excellent photothermal catalytic activity of CO2 to CO (169.26 μmol·g−1·h−1) and CO2 to CH4 (1.94 μmol·g−1·h−1), outperforming the majority of the conventional photocatalysts, whereas the competitive reaction of H2 evolution can be inhibited. This study presents a feasible approach for the efficient utilization of solar energy by harnessing near-infrared light through nano-reactors, thereby providing a viable strategy for photothermal catalytic CO2 reduction.

Cu-BTC-derived Cu@C as nano-heater embedded in 3D g-C3N4 for photothermal-coupled photocatalytic CO2 reduction under full-spectrum solar irradiation

This study developed a novel Cu@C/NCN-T composite for efficient photothermal catalytic CO2 reduction. The composite, consisting of carbon-coated Cu (Cu@C) derived from Cu-BTC embedded in three-dimensional graphitic carbon nitride (NCN-T), was immobilized on the surface of carbonized wood (C-wood) floating on water, creating a triphase system (CO2, H2O, and catalyst). The optimized composite demonstrated remarkable CO2 photothermal reduction performance, achieving a rate of 31.3 μmol·g−1·h−1. This performance surpassed that of pure NCN-T and Cu@C by 1.6 and 3.8 times, respectively. The combination of Cu and carbon materials endowed Cu@C/NCN-T with excellent light-absorption properties, resulting in a photothermal effect that elevated the surface temperature and facilitated the catalytic reaction. Furthermore, the Schottky junction formed between Cu@C and NCN-T promoted the separation of electron-hole pairs, with Cu@C acting as charge channels. A charge transfer mechanism was proposed to explain these findings. This catalyst engineering approach holds promise for the development of efficient non-noble metal catalysts for rapid CO2 photothermal reduction.

Preparation of Pt(II/IV)Clx/BiOHC2O4/Bi2O2CO3 composite microrods with enhanced photocatalytic performance for levofloxacin degradation in water

BiOHC2O4 microrods were initially prepared via a straightforward microwave hydrothermal method. These microrods then served as templates for the growth of BiOHC2O4/Bi2O2CO3 composites via anion exchange. Pt loading onto the composite microrods was achieved through photodeposition and chemical reduction methods. The obtained samples were analyzed by XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, FT-FIR, UV–Vis DRS, PL, N2 physical adsorption, photocurrent and Nyquist impedance measurements. The photocatalytic performance of the fabricated materials for levofloxacin degradation was evaluated under both UV–visible and visible light irradiation. The results showed the formation of Pt(II/IV)Clx species on hierarchical BiOHC2O4/Bi2O2CO3 structure following photodeposition, while metallic Pt was produced via NaBH4 reduction. Pt(II/IV)Clx/BiOHC2O4/Bi2O2CO3 composites displayed superior photocatalytic performance under both light conditions. This enhanced performance can be linked to the presence of Pt(II/IV)Clx, which significantly improves light absorption and facilitates the transfer of photoelectrons and holes (e− and h+). Pt(II/IV)Clx served as a dual-functioning agent, acting as both a photosensitizer to enable visible light activity and as an inhibitor suppressing the recombination of photogenerated carriers. Loading around 4%Pt(wt%), BiOHC/BiOC demonstrated the highest rates of TOC removal, under full light spectrum irradiation for 75 min and visible light irradiation for 300 min, respectively.

Photocatalytic performance of Au/Bi4Ti3O12 composite improved by synergistic piezoelectric effect and exciton-plasmon

Bi4Ti3O12 (BiTO) is a typical bismuth-layered Aurivillius ferroelectric material for its potential application in photocatalysis. In this study, Au/BiTO hybrid was fabricated by precipitating Au nanoparticles onto BiTO nanoflake using a sodium citrate reduction route. This integration has led to a remarkable enhancement in the photocatalytic efficiency, which is attributed to the synergistic coupling of piezoelectric effect of BiTO with the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of Au nanoparticles. The incorporation of Au nanoparticles onto the BiTO matrix has significantly boosted the light absorption and charge carrier separation, thereby augmenting the photocatalytic activity. Notably, Au/BiTO-2 composite exhibits exceptional photocatalytic performance, demonstrating the complete degradation of RhB within 40 min under full-spectrum light irradiation. Moreover, Au/BiTO-2 displays a robust photocatalytic action against other organic pollutants, including methyl orange (MO), ofloxacin (OFLX) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC). Further enhancement of photocatalytic process is achieved when combing light irradiation with ultrasonic excitation. The ultrasonic waves break the static spontaneous polarization through alternating piezoelectric potential, which accelerates the catalytic reaction. The photocatalytic action rate of Au/BiTO-2 toward RhB reaches a value as high as 0.0984 min−1, which is nearly 2.3 folds increasement compared to that of pristine BiTO. The possible synergistic mechanism caused by piezoelectric effect and exciton-plasmon effect is discussed in detail. The work not only enriches our understanding of the underlying principles but also supply a new strategy to design high-performance catalysts in the field of environmental remediation and energy conversion.

Aerogel-derived carbon quantum dots modified BiOCl nanocomposites with augmented oxygen vacancies for enhanced photodegradation of antibiotics

Composite carbon quantum dots (CQDs), characterize as zero-dimensional carbon nanomaterial, play a crucial role in accelerating the separation of photoelectron-hole pairs within photocatalysts. Moreover, they introduce abundant oxygen vacancies (OVs) and facilitate the formation of new defect levels. Therefore, in this study, CA/BiOCl-x was synthesized via the hydrothermal method using carbon aerogel (CA) as the precursor for CQDs endowed with visible light activity. Through the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH), the results demonstrate that CA/BiOCl-6 % exhibits the most prominent photocatalytic efficiency, showcasing a degradation rate of TCH under visible light irradiation fourfold higher than that of pristine BiOCl. Furthermore, the degradation activity is significantly enhanced under full spectrum irradiation, achieving a degradation rate of ∼100 %. The observation indicated efficient integration of CQDs into BiOCl through C = O, introducing abundant OVs. Electrochemical analysis revealed that the enhancement of catalyst recombination significantly augmented both the lifetime of photogenerated carriers and the intensity of photocurrent. Active species quenching experiments indicated the superior role of superoxide radical (•O2−) in CA/BiOCl mediated TCH degradation. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry further confirmed the degradation pathways of contaminants. This study provides novel insights into the development of efficient photocatalysts for remediations of organic pollutants.

2D Copper–Porphyrin Metal–Organic Framework Nanosheet‐Photosensitized TiO2 for Efficiently Broadband Light‐Driven Conversion of CO2 to CH4

The effective utilization of light is crucial in the use of the solar energy for CO2 conversion into valuable fuels and chemicals, in which improving the photocatalytic materials’ capacity to absorb light is a key. Herein, a 2D copper–porphyrin metal−organic framework (MOF)‐photosensitized titania, TiO2/Zn–CuTCPP, is reported, which can absorb wide range of light and photoreduce CO2 with high efficiency under full spectrum irradiation. Fluorescence spectral analysis elucidates the relationship between the photocatalytic activity and the electron–hole separation efficiency. In addition, mechanistic information obtained from electron paramagnetic resonance and in situ infrared analyses demonstrates that the presence of Cu–N4 site in the MOF structure is conducive to the generation of hydrogen free radicals (•H), which plays a key role in the formation of intermediates, thus facilitating the hydrogenation in the reaction process. Consequently, TiO2/Zn–CuTCPP significantly enhances the photocatalytic conversion of CO2 into CH4 with a yield 14 times higher than that of P25.

Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction Using Homogeneous Carbon Dots with a Molecular Cobalt Catalyst.

A simple and precious-metal free photosystem for the reduction of aqueous CO2 to syngas (CO and H2) is reported consisting of carbon dots (CDs) as the sole light harvester together with a molecular cobalt bis(terpyridine) CO2 reduction co-catalyst. This homogeneous photocatalytic system operates in the presence of a sacrificial electron donor (triethanolamine) in DMSO/H2O solution at ambient temperature. The photocatalytic system exhibits an activity of 7.7 ± 0.2 mmolsyngas gCDs -1 (3.6 ± 0.2 mmolCO gCDs -1 and 4.1 ± 0.1 mmolH2 gCDs -1) after 24hours of full solar spectrum irradiation (AM 1.5G). Spectroscopic and electrochemical characterization supports that this photocatalytic performance is attributed to a favorable association between CDs and the molecular cobalt catalyst, which results in improved interfacial photoelectron transfer and catalytic mechanism. This work provides a scalable and inexpensive platform for the development of CO2 photoreduction systems using CDs.

Amorphous LaWOx nanoparticles with rich O defects for photocatalytic RhB degradation

Water containing organic pollutants is posing an increasingly serious challenge to the clean water resources on which human beings depend. As a promising environmental purification technology, photocatalytic degradation can directly use solar energy to purify polluted wastewater without any secondary pollution. Synthesized via the wet chemical method, LaWOx nanoparticles display ultraviolet light responsiveness, large surface area, amorphous features, and abundant surface oxygen defects. These characteristics empower LaWOx NPs to efficiently degrade Rhodamine B, achieving a 92.76 % degradation efficiency in 105 min and a rate constant (Kap) of 0.02215 min−1 under full-spectrum irradiation. This study offers insights into developing new amorphous nano-photocatalysts.