High Photocatalytic Performance Research Articles

Flexible roles of TiO2 in enhancing carrier separation for the high photocatalytic performance of water treatment under different spectrum sunlight

Construction of heterogeneous-photocatalysts is an effective mean for enhancing charge separation, however, the specific roles of the individual components have not been thoroughly explored. In this article, a heterogeneous-photocatalyst, TiO2/MoO3-x, was constructed, revealing that the two components, TiO2 and MoO3-x, play varying roles under different light spectra. Under full spectrum light, an S-scheme mechanism was achieved, which preserved the high oxidizing and reducing property of MoO3-x and TiO2, facilitating an augmented generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Under visible light, the MoO3-x functioned as the donor of hot electrons and the TiO2 served as the receptor platform for these electrons. The presence of the interfacial electric field enabled the transfer of hot electrons, leading to an enhanced ROS generation. Consequently, the TiO2/MoO3-x achieved high photocatalytic activity under both full spectrum and visible light. The optimized TiO2/MoO3-x catalyst demonstrated outstanding antibacterial efficacy, achieving eradication rates of 98.1 % for Staphylococcus aureus, and 99.6 % for Escherichia coli respectively. Additionally, it exhibited substantial degradation activity with a rate of 0.028 min−1 for Rhodamine B (50 mg/L). Furthermore, the TiO2/MoO3-x membrane removed approximately 81.2 % of bacteria from surface water, underscoring the potential of the designed membrane in water purification systems. This article explored the distinct roles and corresponding charge transfer mechanisms of the TiO2 and MoO3-x under full spectrum or visible light, offering innovative ideas for the design of full-spectrum photocatalysts with high efficiency. The straightforward design of membrane-based filtering device demonstrated wide applications for treating wastewater for the removal of dye and bacterial contamination.

Effect of crystallite size reduction and widening of optical phonon vibration due to AC variation on ZnO/Mg composites in implementation of methylene blue degradation.

The fashion industry's reliance on dyes contributes significantly to environmental pollution, which disturbs the ecological balance. To address this issue, we used ZnO/Mg combined with activated carbon (AC) at various concentrations (0.1g, 0.5g, and 1g), which were synthesized via sol-gel and mechanical alloying processes. The analysis of X-ray diffraction shows reduced crystallite size, with d-spacing change ( d ) for ZnO/Mg/AC (0.5g) and ( d ) for ZnO/Mg/AC (1g), respectively. The results of the IR spectrum indicated the main vibrations is MgO and Zn-O bonds at wave numbers 673cm-1 and 467cm-1. It was found that ZnO/Mg/AC (1g) shows high degradation performance : 86.15% as a consequence of reduced crystallite size: 22.67nm, decreased skin depth: 0.002cm, widening of optical phonon vibration ( ): 252cm-1 and increased : 4.6eV as a function AC variation. Moreover, the finding of high photocatalytic performance 80% for 0.25mLMB dissolved in 250mL distilled water is obtained from all composites. Based on these results, ZnO/Mg/AC shows potential as a photocatalyst to solve the MB waste problem.

Facile synthesis of a novel CeCO3OH@(H/C–CdS) catalyst with synergistic effect of heterophase junction and heterojunction for enhanced visible-light photocatalytic degradation efficiency at room temperature

A new CeCO3OH@(hexagonal/cubic phases–CdS) (CeCO3OH@(H/C–CdS)) composite catalyst was facilely synthesized by a simple microinjection titration–stirring method, in which CdS nanoparticles were dispersed on the surface of CeCO3OH nanolines. The optimal conditions for the preparation of composite catalysts with high photocatalytic performance were determined by single-factor experiments and response surface experiments. Under these conditions, the degradation rate of 30 mL 2.000 g/L rhodamine B (Rh B) by CeCO3OH@(H/C-CdS) in a photocatalytic reaction for 1 h at 25 °C was up to 86.81 % and its degradation rate in a photocatalytic reaction for 150 min was up to 99.62 %. The degradation rate could be maintained above 80 % even after six times recycling. Especially, the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 2.000 g/L Rh B on the composite catalyst under sunlight and at room temperature for 30 min reached 97.66 %. Meanwhile, the large size of CeCO3OH considerably alleviated the agglomeration of CdS, providing more adsorption and active sites for visible light-mediated degradation of Rh B. Importantly, the Z-scheme charge transfer realized by CdS and CeCO3OH enhanced the efficient separation of photogenerated electrons and holes, and successfully inhibited the recombination of photogenerated electrons with holes. At the same time, owing to the low energy band difference between the two phases of CdS, charge was transferred between the hexagonal and cubic phases, leaving more effective photogenerated charge to participate in the degradation of Rh B. The synergism of the heterophase junction and heterojunction and the presence of oxygen and sulfur vacancies considerably enhanced the degradation performance of the catalyst. Thus, this study provides a new strategy for the modification and enhanced visible-light catalysis performance of CdS-based catalysts.

Pulsed laser processed FeSiBCuNb glassy alloy with polyphasic nanostructure interactions for efficient degradation of reactive red 195 via photoactivating persulfate

An Fe73.5Si13.5B9Cu1Nb3 amorphous ribbon was used as a precursor to fabricate biphasic and polyphasic nanostructure catalysts via pulsed laser processing. The enhancement in nanostructure heterogeneity, light absorption ability, surface hydrophilicity and photothermal conversion of the catalyst resulted in improving photocatalytic performance, evidenced by a higher k value, increased total organic carbon removal rate, and lower ΔE value. The degradation pathway of reactive red 195 molecules in the persulfate system was proposed. Density-functional theory simulations indicated that the excellent catalytic performance of the pulsed laser catalyst was due to its unique polyphasic nanostructure, which induced the reduction in the energy barrier of the rate-determining step (from 2.74 to 1.34 eV) during the conversion of S2O82− to SO4−•. The processed catalyst exhibited an ultrahigh catalytic ability of kSA•C0 = 7733 mg·m−2·min−1 and strong reusability (28 cycles) without efficiency decay. This study revealed that regulating the nanostructure of the catalyst is an effective strategy to achieve high photocatalytic performance.

2D TiO2 Nanosheets Decorated Via Sphere-Like BiVO4: A Promising Non-Toxic Material for Liquid Phase Photocatalysis and Bacterial Eradication.

An in-depth investigation was conducted on a promising composite material (BiVO4/TiO2), focusing on its potential toxicity, photoinduced catalytic properties, as well as its antibiofilm and antimicrobial functionalities. The preparation process involved the synthesis of 2D TiO2 using the lyophilization method, which was subsequently functionalized with sphere-like BiVO4 through wet impregnation. Finally, we developed BiVO4/TiO2 S-scheme heterojunctions which can greatly promote the separation of electron-hole pairs to achieve high photocatalytic performance. The evaluation of concentration- and time-dependent viability inhibition was performed on human lung carcinoma epithelial A549 cells. This assessment included the estimation of glutathione levels and mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity. Significantly, the BiVO4/TiO2 composite demonstrated minimal toxicity towards A549 cells. Impressively, the BiVO4/TiO2 composite exhibited notable photocatalytic performance in the degradation of rhodamine B (k=0.135 min-1) and phenol (k=0.016 min-1). In terms of photoinduced antimicrobial performance, the composite effectively inactivated both gram-negative E. coli and gram-positive E. faecalis bacteria upon 60 minutes of UV-A light exposure, resulting in a significant log 6 (log 10 CFU/mL) reduction in bacterial count. In addition, a 49 % reduction of E. faecalis biofilm was observed. These promising results can be attributed to the unique 2D morphology of TiO2 modified by sphere-like BiVO4, leading to an increased generation of (intracellular) hydroxyl radicals, which plays a crucial role in the treatments of both organic pollutants and bacteria. This research has significant potential for various applications, particularly in addressing environmental contamination and microbial infections.

Shaping and Doping Metal-Organic Framework-Derived TiO2 to Steer the Selectivity of Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction toward CH4.

Steering selectivity in photocatalytic conversion of CO2, especially toward deep reduction products, is vital to energy and environmental goals yet remains a great challenge. In this work, we demonstrate a facet-dependent photocatalytic selective reduction of CO2 to CH4 in Cu-doped TiO2 catalysts exposed with different facets synthesized by a topological transformation from MIL-125 (Ti) precursors. The optimized round cake-like Cu/TiO2 photocatalyst mainly exposed with the (001) facet exhibited a high photocatalytic CO2 reduction performance with a CH4 yield of 40.36 μmol g-1 h-1 with a selectivity of 94.1%, which are significantly higher than those of TiO2 (001) (4.70 μmol g-1 h-1 and 52.6%, respectively), Cu/TiO2 (001 + 101) (18.95 μmol g-1 h-1 and 69.6%, respectively), and Cu/TiO2 (101) (14.73 μmol g-1 h-1 and 78.9%, respectively). The results of experimental and theoretical calculations demonstrate that the Cu doping dominating the promoted separation and migration efficiencies of photogenerated charges and the preferential adsorption on (001) facets synergistically contribute to the selective reduction of CO2 to CH4. This work highlights the significance of synergy between facet engineering and ion doping in the design of high-performance photocatalysts with respect to selective reduction of CO2 to multielectron products.

Pennisteum glaucum-derived carbon dots, synthesized through green approach to degrade Rose Bengal and Methylene Blue dyes photocatalytically

In the present study, carbon dots (C-dots) were synthesized using a simple and uncomplicated pyrolysis method at 250 °C with varying duration of 1 h, 2 h, and 3 h, utilizing Pennisetum glaucum as the biomass precursor to break down methylene blue (MB) and Rose Bengal (RB) dyes under UV light exposure. Various analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–visible spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM), were utilized to investigate the chemical, optical, electronic, surface morphological, and magnetic characteristics of the C-dots produced. These C-dots are crystalline, nearly spherical, and have particle sizes ranging from 4.73 nm to 12.44 nm. FTIR analysis identified the functional groups present on the surface of the C-dots. Additionally, the band gap energy of the C-dots reduced from 2.82 eV to 2.40 eV with an increase in pyrolysis time. They are effective for cleaning dye-polluted wastewater and demonstrate high photocatalytic performance. When exposed to UV light, the synthesized particles achieved impressive photocatalytic degradation of 94.80 % for MB and 91.80 % for RB dyes.

Hybrid NiCo2O4-BiOCOOH heterostructure nanocomposite impregnated porous polymer monolith as high-performance visible light photocatalyst for the decontamination of antimicrobial pollutants

We report a first-of-its-kind preparation of a NiCo2O4-BiOCOOH heterostructure as visible light-responsive nanocomposites (NCs) for the fast decontamination of moxifloxacin drug molecules, with longer persistence and non-biodegradability nature that could promote gene-resistance bacteria in aqueous medium. Further, a reusable/recoverable photocatalyst is fabricated through the uniform decoration of NiCo2O4(15 %)-BiOCOOH(85 %), i.e., NB-15 NCs across a tailor-made poly(EGDMA) monolith (PEM) that serves as the host template for the photoactive NCs. The electron microscopy, optical spectroscopy, diffraction, and surface analysis techniques confirm the photocatalyst's superior structural morphology, surface topography, and porosity features that assist in high-performance photocatalysis. The inorganic-organic hybrid photocatalyst exhibits a narrow energy bandgap that promotes ample generation of reactive oxygen species upon visible light irradiation, as confirmed by the electrochemical and spectroscopic analysis. The BET/BJH plot for the photocatalyst reveals a large surface area of 345 m2/g, with voluminous pore distributions (2–80 nm), indicating the coexistence of mesopores-infused macroporous framework that offers better contact/equilibration of the pollutant molecules with the abundantly dispersed photoactive sites. The optimized parameters reveal ≥99.2 % drug dissipation in ≤0.33 h and drug mineralization in ≤2.0 h, using a mere 50 mg of photocatalyst irradiated with a 150 W/cm2 tungsten lamp. The synthesized photocatalyst has a simple/cost-saving procedure that can transform into scalable, cheaper, and eco-friendly products for the real-time monitoring of toxic pollutants. Besides, the photocatalyst exhibits excellent stability and reusability characteristics for efficiently decontaminating organic pollutants, thus highlighting an innovative approach for fabricating high-performance photocatalysts.

Synergistic photocatalytic performance of MoO3:Cu/g-C3N4 heterojunction semiconductor for efficient crystal violet dye degradation: A sustainable approach for environmental remediation

A heterojunction semiconductor of MoO3:Cu in conjunction with g-C3N4 was fabricated using a green synthesis approach facilitated by leaves extract of Murraya paniculata. Numerous methods of characterisation, including XPS, FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, BET, HR-TEM, FE-SEM, EDAX, and UV–visible spectrophotometry were employed to analyse the materials. The results from XRD and HRTEM indicated the highly crystalline nanoparticles with a mean particle size of 5.42 nm for MoO3 nanomaterials with doping of 5.62 nm Cu particles. The two-dimensional g-C3N4 sheeted structure acted as a translucent layer, facilitating self-assembly on the spherical MoO3:Cu nanoparticles, thereby promoting efficient charge flow and enhancing the photodegradation capability of the heterojunction semiconductor. XPS analysis confirmed the presence of Mo, Cu, N, O, and C in the fabricated heterojunction. UV–Visible and PL spectra demonstrated the efficient suppression of exciton annihilation in the heterojunction semiconductor. Remarkably, the heterojunction exhibited a high photocatalytic degradation performance of 97 % for the photodegradation of Crystal violet (CV) dye. Additionally, the effects of pH and dose of catalyst on photodegradation, as well as the recyclability of the catalyst, were evaluated. Kinetic analysis revealed a pseudo first-order reaction with 0.617 min−1 rate constant, while scavenger experiments confirmed the involvement of h+ and .O2− as active species in the degradation process.

Revealing the nontrivial topological surface states of catalysts for effective photochemical carbon dioxide conversion

Topological semimetals with protected surface states mark a new paradigm of research beyond the early landmarks of band-structure engineering, allowing fabrication of efficient catalyst to harness the rich metallic surface states to activate specific chemical processes. Herein, we demonstrate a facile solid-phase method for in-situ doping of Ir at the Os sites in the Os3Sn7, an alloy with topological states, which significantly improves the photocatalytic performance for the reduction of CO2 to CO and CH4. Experimental evidence combined with theoretical calculations reveal that the nontrivial topological surface states greatly accelerate charge-separation/electron-enrichment and adsorption/activation of CO2 molecules, rendering highly efficient reaction channels to stimulate the formation of *COOH and *CO, as well CHO*. This work shows the promise of achieving high photocatalytic performances with synthesizing topological catalysts and provides hints on the design of novel topological catalysts with superior photoactivity towards the CO2 reduction reaction.

Green synthesis of magnetic silver nanocomposite: the photocatalytic performance of nanocomposite to decolorize organic dyes

ABSTRACT The magnetite-silver nanocomposites (Fe3O4-Ag NCs) were synthesized via a facile and green process by Citrus sinensis peel extract. The deposition of silver nanoparticles (NPs) was confirmed by observing an absorption peak at the maximum wavelength at 422 nm in the suspension solution of samples, which is related to silver surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The characteristic diffraction patterns of Fe3O4 and Ag phases were characterized utilizing the XRD patterns and the average size of the crystals was 21 nm. The photocatalytic behavior of Fe3O4-Ag NCs was studied for the destruction of three organic dyes methyl green (MG), methyl orange (MO), and methylene blue (MB) below UV radiation. The effect of the amount of photocatalyst and volume of hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant in the process of dye degradation was also investigated. The complete degradation time of dyes MB, MG, and MO under UV irradiation in the presence of 0.002 g Fe3O4-Ag NCs were 57, 33, and 49 min, respectively. The time of degradation reactions showed the high photocatalytic performance of Fe3O4-Ag NCs. These results proved that the synergistic effect of magnetite in the role of supporting the silver NPs was a significant contribution to the excellent decolorization behavior of Fe3O4-Ag NCs.

Photocatalytic coatings with self-cleaning properties for indoor air treatment

In this work we have studied the photocatalytic and self-cleaning properties of TiO2 layers immobilized on polymeric panels, as passive elements for air treatment. In order to achieve easy scale-up technologies for the preparation of coatings, roller-coating technique was selected, comparing the results with those prepared by dip-coating. Composites were characterized by SAXRD, UV–Vis DRS spectroscopy, profilometry, N2 adsorption–desorption, SEM and AFM microscopy. The adherence of the coating was evaluated according the ASTM D3359 standard adhesive tape test. The photocatalytic properties of the materials were evaluated by the photodegradation of trichloroethylene or formaldehyde, as model volatile organic compounds, in the gas phase. The hydrophilic-hydrophobic properties were measured by studying the in-situ variation of the water contact angle with time and UV-A irradiation. Moreover, the self-cleaning properties were analyzed according to ISO 27448:2009 for oleic acid removal. Although coatings of approximately ca. 250 nm layer thickness can be prepared by both techniques, roller-coating allows the material deposition with a coral-like structure in a single and simple step. Surface roughness was promoted by roller process. The developed materials present high photocatalytic performance for the elimination of both model pollutants in the gas phase. Aging tests under outdoor conditions and Scotch tape test show the stability and resistance of the coatings. In-situ irradiation measurements show the superhydrophilic character of the coatings. Water contact angle lower than 10 ° after 300 min of UV-A irradiation was achieved for oleic acid removal. The combination of TiO2 nanoparticles with different crystal structures and sizes improves the photocatalytic performance. A correlation between the ability for pollutants degradation in gas phase and the self-cleaning properties (in-situ or oleic acid measurements) was determined.

Plasma-induced surface interactions of Pd/SrTiO3 catalyst for improved performance of photocatalytic degradation of toluene

Defective engineering and the addition of noble metal are effective strategies to realize the high photocatalytic performance of SrTiO3 perovskite. Here, the Pd/SrTiO3 catalyst was successfully prepared by the low-temperature plasma treatment coupling with photochemical deposition of metal Pd, which was applied to the photocatalytic degradation of toluene. Compared with single STO, STON, and Pd-STO catalysts, the prepared Pd-STON catalyst shows the excellent UV photocatalytic performance toward toluene degradation, realizing a ca.80 % degradation efficiency within 90 min reaction time. Based on various characterizations, it revealed that plasma treatment promoted the formation of surface oxygen defects, and strengthened the metal-support interaction. The resultant surface oxygen vacancy accelerated the migration rate of photogenerated electrons and the separation of electrons and holes in space, benefiting for superior performance. It is expected that this study can provide new avenues for the rational design of highly efficient photocatalysts for potential practical applications.

Visible light responsive SiO2/g-C3N4/BiOBr/Bi heterojunction photocatalyst for degradation of rhodamine B

For the purpose of alleviating the negative influence of rhodamine B (RhB) abuse on the environment, it is imperative to design a green and efficient photocatalyst for tackling organic dye-contaminated wastewater. Herein, a novel SiO2/g-C3N4/BiOBr/Bi (denoted as Si/CN/BiOB/Bi) photocatalyst with enhanced photodegradation activity has been successfully created. The influence of variable parameters including Bi doping amount, initial concentration of RhB, photocatalyst dosage, and reaction temperature on the photocatalytic performance of Si/CN/BiOB/Bi under visible light illumination are analyzed in detail. Results indicated that the degradation rate constant of RhB over Si/CN/BiOB/Bi-0.5 is 25.1, 18.1, and 2.2 times higher than that of CN, Si/CN, and Si/CN/BiOB, respectively. The Si/CN/BiOB/Bi-0.5 photocatalyst displayed high photocatalytic performance after 5 recycled runs. The improved photocatalytic performance can be attributed to the novel morphology as well as the excellent synergetic effects of Si/CN, BiOBr, and Bi, which enables the catalysts to accelerate the separation of photogenerated carriers. In brief, a new Si/CN/BiOB/Bi photocatalyst has a great application perspective for the purification of RhB wastewater.

Crystal-Defect-Induced Longer Lifetime of Excited States in a Metal-Organic Framework Photocatalyst to Enhance Visible-Light-Mediated CO2 Reduction.

We report the structural defects in Zr-metal-organic framework (MOFs) for achieving highly efficient CO2 reduction under visible light irradiation. A series of defective Zr-MOF-X (X = 160, 240, 320, or 400) are synthesized by acid-regulated defect engineering. Compared to pristine defect-free Zr-MOF (NNU-28), N2 uptake increases for Zr-MOF-X synthesized with the HAc modulator, producing a larger pore space and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area. The pore size distribution demonstrates that defective Zr-MOF-X exhibits mesoporous structures. Electrochemistry tests show that defective Zr-MOF-X possesses a more negative reduction potential and a higher photocurrent responsive signal than that of pristine NNU-28. Consequently, the defective samples exhibit a significantly higher efficiency in the photoreduction of CO2 to formate. Transient absorption spectroscopies manifest that structural defects modulate the excited-state behivior of Zr-MOF-X and improve the photogenerated charge separation of Zr-MOF-X. Furthermore, electron paramagnetic resonance and in-suit X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy provide additional evidence of the high photocatalytic performance exhibited by defective Zr-MOF-X. Results demonstrate that structural defects in Zr-MOF-X also improve the charge transfer, producing abundant Zr(III) catalytically active sites, exhibiting a slower decay process than defect-free Zr-MOF. The long-lifetime Zr(III) species in defective Zr-MOF-X are fully exposed to a high-concentration CO2 atmosphere, thereby enhancing the photocatalytic efficiency of CO2 reduction.

Facile Synthesis of Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Heterojunctions of Glycolated Conjugated Polymer‐TiO2−X for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

AbstractThe utilization of the organic–inorganic hybrid photocatalysts for water splitting has gained significant attention due to their ability to combine the advantages of both materials and generate synergistic effects. However, they are still far from practical application due to the limited understanding of the interactions between these two components and the complexity of their preparation process. Herein, a facial approach by combining a glycolated conjugated polymer with a TiO2−X mesoporous sphere to prepare high‐efficiency hybrid photocatalysts is presented. The functionalization of conjugated polymers with hydrophilic oligo (ethylene glycol) side chains can not only facilitate the dispersion of conjugated polymers in water but also promote the interaction with TiO2−X forming stable heterojunction nanoparticles. An apparent quantum yield of 53.3% at 365 nm and a hydrogen evolution rate of 35.7 mmol h−1 g−1 is achieved by the photocatalyst in the presence of Pt co‐catalyst. Advanced photophysical studies based on femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy and in situ, XPS analyses reveal the charge transfer mechanism at type II heterojunction interfaces. This work shows the promising prospect of glycolated polymers in the construction of hybrid heterojunctions for photocatalytic hydrogen production and offers a deep understanding of high photocatalytic performance by such heterojunction photocatalysts.

Nghiên cứu tổng hợp vật liệu composite SiO2/g-C3N4 cho quá trình quang xúc tác phân hủy rhodamine B

In this study, a visible-light-driven SiO2/g–C3N4 composite was prepared by heating a mixture of SiO2 and urea. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectra (IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS). Results indicate that the composite only contained SiO2 and g-C3N4, and the SiO2/g–C3N4 composite had higher photocatalytic activities in the degradation of rhodamine B (82.2%) compared to the pristine g-C3N4 (43.9%) under visible light. The SiO2/g–C3N4 composite is a promising new material for the photodegradation of organic pollutants in wastewater due to its high photocatalytic performance, low cost, and convenient collection for reuse.

Research on the fabrication of nanorod-structured phorphyrin/g-C3N4 as photocatalyst materials for the removal of Cr6+ ions in an aqueous solution

Due to their potential to expand the photon energy harvesting zones and improve charge separation, two semiconductors together have been shown to be a promising technique to increase the photocatalytic activity of photocatalysts. Through the use of monomeric porphyrin molecules and g-C3N4 nanomaterials, self-assembly of the hybird g-C3N4@porrphyrin nanorod materials under CTAB surfactant-assited conditions was demonstrated in this study. SEM, EDS, FTIR, and UV-vis were used to characterize the generated hybrid material. Under simulated sunlight irradiation, the hybrid mateial’s photocatalytic behaviour was examined for the photoreduction of Cr6+ ions. After 100 minutes of reaction time under the simulated solar spectrum, the results showed that the hybrid material demonstrated high photocatalytic performance against, with clearance percentage of almost 100%. The prepared photocatalyst was also highly stable with the reduction of Cr6+ removal efficiency of less than 10% after 4 cycles of photocatalytic testing.

Nanoarchitectonics of S-Scheme Heterojunction Photocatalysts: A Nanohouse Design Improves Photocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia Performance.

Photocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NitRR) is a promising route for environment remediation and sustainable ammonia synthesis. To design efficient photocatalysts, the recently emerged nanoarchitectonics approach holds great promise. Here, we report a nanohouse-like S-scheme heterjunction photocatalyst with high photocatalytic NitRR performance. The nano-house has a floor of plate-like metal organic framework-based photocatalyst (NH2-MIL-125), on which another photocatalyst Co(OH)2 nanosheet is grown while ZIF-8 hollow cages are also constructed as the surrounding wall/roof. Experimental and simulation results indicate that the positively charged, highly porous and hydrophobic ZIF-8 wall can modulate the environment in the nanohouse by (i) NO3- enrichment / NH4+ discharge and (ii) suppression of the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction. In combination with the enhanced electron-hole separation and strong redox capability in the NH2-MIL-125@Co(OH)2 S-scheme heterjunction confined in the nano-house, the designed photocatalyst delivers an ammonia yield of 2454.9 µmol g-1 h-1 and an apparent quantum yield of 8.02% at 400 nm in pure water. Our work provides new insights into the design principles of advanced photocatalytic NitRR photocatalyst.

Nanoarchitectonics of S‐Scheme Heterojunction Photocatalysts: A Nanohouse Design Improves Photocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia Performance

Photocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NitRR) is a promising route for environment remediation and sustainable ammonia synthesis. To design efficient photocatalysts, the recently emerged nanoarchitectonics approach holds great promise. Here, we report a nanohouse‐like S‐scheme heterjunction photocatalyst with high photocatalytic NitRR performance. The nano‐house has a floor of plate‐like metal organic framework‐based photocatalyst (NH2‐MIL‐125), on which another photocatalyst Co(OH)2 nanosheet is grown while ZIF‐8 hollow cages are also constructed as the surrounding wall/roof. Experimental and simulation results indicate that the positively charged, highly porous and hydrophobic ZIF‐8 wall can modulate the environment in the nanohouse by (i) NO3‐ enrichment / NH4+ discharge and (ii) suppression of the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction. In combination with the enhanced electron‐hole separation and strong redox capability in the NH2‐MIL‐125@Co(OH)2 S‐scheme heterjunction confined in the nano‐house, the designed photocatalyst delivers an ammonia yield of 2454.9 µmol g‐1 h‐1 and an apparent quantum yield of 8.02% at 400 nm in pure water. Our work provides new insights into the design principles of advanced photocatalytic NitRR photocatalyst.