Intimate Interface Research Articles

Valorization of manganese residue to construct amorphous MnO2/α-Fe2O3@geopolymer Z-scheme heterojunction for efficient Cr(VI) reduction and ciprofloxacin degradation

To effectively utilize the hazardous industrial solid waste manganese residue (MR), a MR-derived Fe2O3-baesd photocatalyst with efficient charge transfer, abundant reactive sites and high redox performance was developed for simultaneously removing organic pollutants and heavy metals. Herein, a novel “confined growth” strategy was proposed to fabricate an amorphous MnO2 decorated α-Fe2O3@geopolymer sphere (A-MnO2/Fe2O3@GS) Z-scheme heterojunction by ion exchange method, which was used as a photo-Fenton catalyst for efficiently reducing Cr(VI) and degrading ciprofloxacin (CIP). Characterization results reveal that the 3D hydrangea-like MnO2 with low crystallinity could not only capture and accelerate electron transfer but also act as an electron conduction bridge and a surface oxygen adsorption site, resulting in efficient separation and utilization of charge. More importantly, the photocatalytic reduction capacity was greatly enhanced in Z-scheme heterojunction owing to the lower conduction band potential of MnO2. A-MnO2/Fe2O3@GS showed excellent photocatalytic activity with CIP removal of 99.1% within 40 min and Cr(VI) removal of 97.6% within 50 min, which were 8.13 and 3.47 times higher than those catalyzed by Fe2O3@GS, respectively. This can be ascribed to the formation of intimate interface, internal electrostatic field, and rich structure defects in the Z-scheme heterojunction. This work offers a new idea to construct Z-scheme photocatalysts with high reactivity for environmental modification.

Enhancement of Charge Separation and NIR Light Harvesting through Construction of 2D-2D Bi4 O5 I2 /BiOBr:Yb3+ , Er3+ Z-Scheme Heterojunctions for Improved Full-Spectrum Photocatalytic Performance.

Developing full-spectrum photocatalysts with simultaneous broadband light absorption, excellent charge separation, and high redox capabilities is becoming increasingly significant. Herein, inspired by the similarities in crystalline structures and compositions, a unique 2D-2D Bi4 O5 I2 /BiOBr:Yb3+ ,Er3+ (BI-BYE) Z-scheme heterojunction with upconversion (UC) functionality is successfully designed and fabricated. The co-doped Yb3+ and Er3+ harvest near-infrared (NIR) light and then convert it into visible light via the UC function, expanding the optical response range of the photocatalytic system. The intimate 2D-2D interface contact provides more charge migration channels and enhances the Förster resonant energy transfer of BI-BYE, leading to significantly improved NIR light utilization efficiency. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimental results confirm that the Z-scheme heterojunction is formed and that this heterojunction endows the BI-BYE heterostructure with high charge separation and strong redox capability. Benefit from these synergies, the optimized 75BI-25BYE heterostructure exhibits the highest photocatalytic performance for Bisphenol A (BPA) degradation under full-spectrum and NIR light irradiation, outperforming BYE by 6.0 and 5.3 times, respectively. This work paves an effective approach for designing highly efficient full-spectrum responsive Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts with UC function.

Heterojunction construction on covalent organic frameworks for visible-light-driven H2O2 evolution in ambient air

Photocatalytic H2O2 production by reducing O2 has drawn great interest, but most reactions were conducted in pure O2 which requires extra energy input. Here, TpPa-1 was facilely decorated by ZnIn2S4 nanosheets for H2O2 production in ambient air under visible light. Profiting from the hierarchical heterostructure, efficient visible-light absorption and O2 capture of ZnIn2S4/TpPa-1, an H2O2 yield of 516 μmol·L−1 was obtained with 2 h irradiation, which is 3.0 and 3.9 times those of blank TpPa-1 and ZnIn2S4, respectively. The intimate interface contact between ZnIn2S4 and TpPa-1 also contributes to the performance improvement. It is noted that the photocatalytic H2O2 formation over ZnIn2S4/TpPa-1 hybrids experienced an indirect reduction of O2 that ·O2- served as the key intermediate. Additionally, the reactions under different atmospheres and ethanol concentrations demonstrate that both O2 and ethanol play important roles in the efficient evolution of H2O2. This work could enlighten the heterostructure construction and (photo)catalytic H2O2 production based on covalent organic frameworks.

Silver nanoparticle enhanced metal-organic matrix with interface-engineering for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Integrating plasmonic nanoparticles into the photoactive metal-organic matrix is highly desirable due to the plasmonic near field enhancement, complementary light absorption, and accelerated separation of photogenerated charge carriers at the junction interface. The construction of a well-defined, intimate interface is vital for efficient charge carrier separation, however, it remains a challenge in synthesis. Here we synthesize a junction bearing intimate interface, composed of plasmonic Ag nanoparticles and matrix with silver node via a facile one-step approach. The plasmonic effect of Ag nanoparticles on the matrix is visualized through electron energy loss mapping. Moreover, charge carrier transfer from the plasmonic nanoparticles to the matrix is verified through ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy and in-situ photoelectron spectroscopy. The system delivers highly efficient visible-light photocatalytic H2 generation, surpassing most reported metal-organic framework-based photocatalytic systems. This work sheds light on effective electronic and energy bridging between plasmonic nanoparticles and organic semiconductors.

Microstructure dependent behavior of the contact interface on porous graphene wrapped Si anodes for Li-ion batteries

Si/carbon composites are attractive anode materials for rechargeable Li-ion batteries (RLIBs), which combine the advantages of Si and graphene. Designing special Si/carbon structure with intimate contact interface and abundant void space for fast ion transmission is an effective strategy for enhancing cyclability and rate performance of the electrode materials. Inspired by the structure of fishnet, here we fabricate a binder-free and self-standing Si@porous-graphene (Si@PGN60) composite with nano silicon particles encapsulated in porous graphene sheets. The obtained Si@PGN60 sample exhibits many favourable features for high performance Si/carbon anodes, including improved Si/graphene contact interface, and abundant void space for fast ion transmission. Tanks to the unique structure, the resultant Si@PGN60 anode presents remarkably improved capacity reaching 1839.9 mA h g−1 at 300 mA g−1, and excellent cycling performance (734 mA h g−1 at a high current density of 3000 mA g−1).

Adsorptive and photocatalytic performance of cobalt-doped ZnTiO3/Ti3C2Tx MXene nanohybrids towards tetracycline: Kinetics and mechanistic insight.

Tetracycline (TC) antibiotics are widely used in animal husbandry and can cause environmental risk due to its high ecological toxicity and persistence. In this study, cobalt doped/ZnTiO3 (ZTO)/Ti3C2Tx MXene (ZCxTM, x indicates wt% of Co loading) was synthesized and explored to remove TC by adsorption and photocatalysis under visible light irradiation. The as-prepared ZC5TM was characterized using various analytical techniques, and key operating parameters such as solution pH, background ions, and temperature were systematically investigated. Interestingly, ZC5TM (14.9mg/g) showed excellent adsorption capacity for TC, which was higher than activated carbon (7.7mg/g), ZTO (4.9mg/g), ZC3T (5.2mg/g), ZC5T (5.3mg/g), MXene (12.1mg/g), ZTOM (12.5mg/g), and ZC3TM (12.9mg/g). The pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm models well explained the effect of contact time and initial concentrations on the adsorption of TC. The adsorption process was primarily through the electrostatic attraction, surface complexation, and hydrogen bonding. In addition, MXene and Co doped on ZTO served as co-catalyst and reduced recombination rate of photo-generated e--h+ pairs by the intimate interface of its heterojunction. Thus, ZC5TM was highly effective for the photocatalytic degradation of residual TC after adsorption by showing 18% TC degradation rate, compared to 8% and 9% degradation rate for ZTO and MXene, respectively. There results finally support the feasible use of ZC5TM as efficient adsorbent and photocatalyst in removal of TC in wastewater.

Ultrafine, Dual-Phase, Cation-Deficient PrBa0.8Ca0.2Co2O5+δ Air Electrode for Efficient Solid Oxide Cells.

Nanostructured air electrodes play a crucial role in improving the electrocatalytic activity of oxygen reduction and evolution reactions in solid oxide cells (SOCs). Herein, we report the fabrication of a nanostructured BaCoO3-decorated cation-deficient PrBa0.8Ca0.2Co2O5+δ (PBCC) air electrode via a combined modification and direct assembly approach. The modification approach endows the dual-phase air electrode with a large surface area and abundant oxygen vacancies. An intimate air electrode-electrolyte interface is in situ constructed with the formation of a catalytically active Co3O4 bridging layer via electrochemical polarization. The corresponding single cell exhibits a peak power density of 2.08 W cm-2, an electrolysis current density of 1.36 A cm-2 at 1.3 V, and a good operating stability at 750 °C for 100 h. This study provides insights into the rational design and facile utilization of an active and stable nanostructured air electrode of SOCs.

Facile Construction of Iron Phthalocyanine/Carbon Nitride Heterojunction toward Visible Light-Assisted Peroxydisulfate Activation for Efficient Tetracycline Degradation

Iron phthalocyanine/carbon nitride (FePc/CN) heterojunction nanosheets were prepared by a facile calcination strategy, which exhibited superior ability of peroxydisulfate (PDS) activation toward degradation of tetracycline (TC) assisted by visible light. The removal rate of high-concentration TC (50 mg L–1) over FePc/CN-6 reached 97% within 40 min, with the degradation rate constant of 4.4 and 9.2 times those of CN and FePc, respectively. The excellent catalytic performance of FePc/CN-6 could be attributed to the synergistic effect between photocatalysis and PDS activation. The construction of the FePc/CN-6 heterojunction with an intimate interface via π–π conjugation inhibited the aggregation of FePc, promoted charge separation and transfer, and broadened the response range of visible light. As a result, the highly dispersed Fe active sites as well as more available photogenerated electrons and holes enhanced the PDS activation and the photodegradation. EPR spin-trapping tests and radical quenching experiments confirmed the role of multiple active species in the TC removal. The effects of temperature, pH, coexisting anions, and water sources on the removal rate of TC were investigated. FePc/CN-6 also displayed good potential in actual wastewater treatment. This work not only provides insight into design and preparation of efficient and stable catalysts for PDS activation but also establishes a promising catalytic oxidation system for the green remediation of actual wastewater.

Interface and Defect Engineering of a Hollow TiO2@ZnIn2S4 Heterojunction for Highly Enhanced CO2 Photoreduction Activity

Rational engineering of the interfaces or defects of heterojunctions provides an effective strategy to improve their photocatalytic performance but is still a challenge. Herein, we present an ingenious calcination strategy of simultaneously introducing sulfur vacancies and enhancing the interfacial interaction for a hollow TiO2@ZnIn2S4 heterojunction, thus greatly improving the photocatalytic CO2 reduction activity. The low-temperature calcination strategy makes the heterojunction possess both abundant sulfur vacancies and strong interfacial interaction, which lead to an enhanced CO2 photoreduction activity with a CO evolution rate of 1330 μmol g–1 h–1, much higher than that of the sample without calcination treatment (639 μmol g–1 h–1). The significantly boosted photocatalytic performance can be ascribed to the improved transfer and separation of photogenerated charges resulting from the intimate heterojunction interface, as well as the strengthened visible-light absorption due to the rich sulfur vacancies. This work presents a feasible and convenient method to optimize the performance of the heterojunction photocatalysts by designing the interfaces and defects.

Oxygen vacancy-mediated direct solid phase integration of interfacial chemical bond reinforced LaNiO3/RGO/g-C3N4 heterojunction for improving hydrogen production

g-C3N4 has attracted much attention in the field of photocatalysis. However, its high carrier recombination rate has always been an obstacle in practical application. g-C3N4-based heterostructures with an intimate interface contact is considered to be an effective solution to improve the separation and transmission of photogenerated carriers. Herein, an oxygen vacancy-mediated direct solid phase integration strategy is proposed to synthesize a 0D/2D/2D LaNiO3/RGO/g-C3N4 S-scheme heterostructure with interface chemical bonds. The optimized LaNiO3/RGO/g-C3N4 sample showed excellent hydrogen evolution rate of 1375 μmol/g/h, which is far superior to those of pristine g-C3N4 (46 μmol/g/h), LaNiO3/g-C3N4 (143 μmol/g/h), RGO/g-C3N4 (307 μmol/g/h) and mechanically mixed sample LaNiO3-RGO-g-C3N4 (625 μmol/g/h). Also, it is comparable to many g-C3N4-based heterojunction photocatalysts known at present. The improved performance can be attributed to interfacial charge transfer promoted by interfacial chemical bonds served as charge transfer channels and the high redox capacity of S-scheme charge transfer. This work opens up a new avenue for the predictive design of reinforced heterojunction with enhanced photocatalytic performance.

Near-infrared-driven enhanced β-NaYF4:Yb3+, Tm3+@BiOCl heterostructured upconversion composites for efficient degradation of organic contaminants

Constructing comprehensive performance-enhanced heterostructured composite using the synergistic effect of complementary advantages between heterogeneous materials has always been challenging. In this work, highly stable β-NaYF4:Yb3+, Tm3+@BiOCl (NYF@BiOCl) heterostructured upconversion composites were successfully prepared using a two-step hydrothermal method. Compared to NYF/BiOCl mechanical mixtures, NYF@BiOCl with intimate interface show a higher photocatalytic degradation rate of rhodamine B (RhB) aqueous solutions, achieving 99.9% in 18 min and 98% in 2 h under simulated sunlight and near-infrared (NIR) light, respectively. The construction of heterostructures has a broad-spectrum response, which improves the utilization of sunlight and achieves efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants. Upconversion luminescence mechanism, spectral overlap, and Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) explain the high photocatalytic activity of NYF@BiOCl. Meanwhile, NYF@BiOCl exhibits good universality to efficiently degrade other organic contaminants (methyl orange (MO), methylene blue (MB), bisphenol A (BPA), p-chlorophenol (4-CP)). This study demonstrates the potential of synergistic effects between heterogeneous materials. It Enhanced the photocatalytic activity of the NYF@BiOCl heterostructured composites driven by NIR light, providing a new strategy for energy-efficient and degradation of hazardous organic contaminants to alleviate environmental pollution.

Constructing direct Z-scheme heterojunction g-C3N5/BiOBr for efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction with H2O

Photocatalytic CO2 reduction with H2O into hydrocarbon fuels represented an appealing approach to mitigate the energy crisis and greenhouse effect. However, isolated BiOBr (BOB) usually possessed rapid recombination of photogenerated carriers and low solar energy utilization, which restricted the elevation of photocatalytic performance. Herein, a direct Z-scheme porous N-rich g-C3N5/BiOBr (pCN/BOB) photocatalyst was fabricated through in situ hydrothermal approach. Furthermore, benefiting from Z-scheme heterojunction and tight surface contact, the pCN/BOB exhibited remarkably enhanced photoreduction ability of CO2 under visible light. Specially, 10% pCN/BOB exhibited the optimized photocatalytic performance for CH3OH production (3.08 μmol·g−1·h−1), approximately four times that of isolated BOB, whose improved photocatalytic performance was ascribed to the separation of photoinduced carriers by Z-scheme heterojunction and intimate interface contact. Meanwhile, the photogenerated charge transfer mechanism was calculated by work function calculation. Moreover, pCN/BOB exhibited good reusability for photocatalytic CO2 reduction. This work provided an efficient strategy for designing and preparing the high-efficiency photocatalysts for converting solar energy.

Increasing electron transfer and light absorption in graphited nanocarbon-conjugated g-C3N4 nanosheet heterostructure for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Accelerating the charge separation and transfer as well as increasing the visible light absorption is of great importance for photocatalysts to realize efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution via water splitting. Herein, for the first time, we fabricated in-plane graphited nanocarbon-conjugated polymeric carbon nitride (GNC-C3N4) nanosheet heterostructure photocatalyst from melamine and hexaketocyclohexane octahydrate mixture via an amino-carbonyl reaction. The incorporation of GNC into conjugate network of C3N4 can not only dramatically enhance the light harvesting but also significantly promote the charge separation and transfer by the built-in electric field and intimate interface in the coplanar GNC-C3N4 heterostructure. Accordingly, the optimal GNC-C3N4 photocatalyst demonstrates a more than 15-fold enhancement for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water under visible light irradiation, compared to C3N4.

Construction of 0D/3D CdS/CoAl-LDH S-scheme heterojunction with boosted charge transfer and highly hydrophilic surface for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and antibiotic degradation

Energy band matching coupled with intimate interface in a heterojunction is the prerequisite for achieving the separation of photogenerated carriers. Herein, 0D CdS nanospheres were uniformly anchored in 3D flower-like CoAl layered double hydroxide (CoAl-LDH) spheres via a hydrothermal process. The unique porous structure and abundant hydrophilic groups can significantly promote the interactions between catalyst and solutions and thus facilitate the photocatalytic reaction. The appropriately staggered band structures can trigger the formation of S-scheme heterojunction, and the tight connection between the CdS and CoAl-LDH offers more charge transport channels, thereby accelerating the charge transfer. The optimized CdS/CoAl-LDH nanohybrid presents a photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of 6.19 mmol/g/h and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) degradation efficiency of 92.2 % in 50 min. Moreover, the Cd2+ ion concentration measured by ICP-OES verifies the alleviation of photocorrosion, and the DFT calculations further demonstrate the higher hydrophilia, lower H2 absorption energy and stronger charge interactions of CdS/LDH hybrid. This work provides a feasible strategy to efficiently utilize the photoinduced carries by constructing a highly hydrophilic S-scheme heterojunction.

Constructing Co-S interface chemical bonds over Co@NC/ZnIn2S4 for an efficient solar-driven photocatalytic H2 evolution.

Developing novel photocatalysts with an intimate interface and sufficient contact is significant for the separation and migration of photogenerated carriers. In this work, a novel Co@NC/ZnIn2S4 heterojunction with a strong Co-S chemical bond was formed at the interface between Co@NC and ZnIn2S4, which accelerated charge separation. Meanwhile, the recombination of the electron-hole pairs was further restricted by the Co@NC/ZnIn2S4 Schottky junction. The Co@NC (5 wt%)/ZnIn2S4 composite exhibited an H2 evolution rate of 33.3 μmol h-1, which is 6.1 times higher than that of the pristine ZnIn2S4, and Co@NC/ZnIn2S4 showed excellent stability in the photocatalytic water splitting reaction. Its apparent quantum yield reached 38% at 420 nm. Furthermore, the Kelvin probe test results showed that the interfacial electric field formed as the driving force for interface charge transfer was oriented from Co@NC to ZnIn2S4. In addition, the Co-S bond as a high-speed channel facilitated the interfacial electron transfer. This work reveals that in situ formed chemical bonds will pave the way for designing high-efficiency heterojunction photocatalysts.

Smart sensing flexible sutures for glucose monitoring in house sparrows.

There is a need for flexible chemical sensors for the ecological and physiological research of avian species such as house sparrows (Passer domesticus). Current methods in this field are invasive and require multiple physical interactions with the birds. Emerging research in flexible bioelectronics can enable realization of implantable devices that are mechanically compliant with the underlying tissues for continuous real-time sensing in situ. However, challenges still remain in forming an intimate flexible interface. One of the promising flexible bioelectronic platforms for tissue-embedded sensing is based on functionalizing surgical sutures or threads. Threads have three-dimensional flexibility, high surface-area-to-volume ratio, inherent wicking properties, and are easily functionalizable using reel-to-reel dip coating. Threads are ideal as they are lightweight, therefore, would not interfere with flight motion and would only require minimal interaction with the bird. However, the challenge remains in achieving a highly conductive yet flexible electrode for electrochemical sensing using materials such as gold. In this study, we address this issue through novel gold deposition directly on thread substrate followed by enzyme immobilization to realize flexible electrochemical glucose biosensors on medical-grade sutures. These sensors were calibrated and tested in a range that is wide enough to include the expected range of glucose concentration in house sparrows (0-8.55 mM). Glucose monitoring in house sparrows will provide insights into energy metabolism and regulation during stress responses. In addition, the stability, repeatability, and selectivity of the sensor were tested with final validation in a real bird. Our innovative gold-coated, thread-based flexible electrochemical glucose sensor can also be used in other small and large animals. This can also be extended to monitoring other metabolites in future.

Heterostructured core–shell CoS1.097@ZnIn2S4 nanosheets for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution under visible light

Rational constructing hierarchical core–shell structured photocatalysts to accelerate the separation and transfer of light-induced electrons is extraordinarily indispensable to boost the performance of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Herein, we integrate two-dimensional (2D) ZnIn2S4 (ZIS) nanosheets and flower-like CoS1.097 assembled with one-dimensional (1D) nanothorns to construct hierarchical 1D/2D CoS1.097@ZIS with ZIS nanosheets and CoS1.097 nanothorns as shell and core respectively as an effective visible light photocatalyst to produce hydrogen from water splitting. The optimized 8.5-CoS1.097@ZIS photocatalyst demonstrates an outstanding activity with hydrogen production rate of 2632.33 µmol g−1h−1 (6.42 times of ZIS alone) and good stability for photocatalytic water splitting. The enhanced performance can be ascribed to the distinctive structure and composition of CoS1.097@ZIS, which affords intimate contact interface, strong light absorption and abundant reaction sites, thus facilitating the separation and transfer of the charge carriers as well as inhibiting charge recombination. This work offers a prospective approach to construct 1D/2D core–shell ZIS-based photocatalysts for hydrogen production from water splitting.

Interfacial intimacy and internal electric field modulated S-scheme Sv-ZnS/ZnIn2S4 photocatalyst for efficient H2 evolution and CO2 reduction

The construction of S-scheme heterojunctions is an effective approach to realize artificial photocatalytic processes. For the higher solar energy conversion efficiency, current research focuses on improving the interfacial intimacy and precisely modulating the strength of the internal electric field (IEF). To address this issue, we propose a novel MOF-based synthesis and derivation strategy. The heterojunction obtained by this strategy tends to form an intimate interface and a tunable IEF, which facilitates the transfer and separation of photogenerated carriers. Herein, a ZnS/ZnIn2S4 (ZIS) S-Scheme heterojunction containing sulfur vacancies (Sv) was successfully synthesized, and its good photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) activity confirmed the feasibility of this strategy. The prepared Sv-ZnS/ZIS exhibits an apparent quantum yield of 19.8 ± 1.0 % at 420 nm and a hydrogen evolution rate of 2912.3 ± 185.9 μmol g−1h−1, which is 9.0 and 33.6 times higher than pure ZIS and Sv-ZnS, respectively. Furthermore, the yield of photoreduction CO2 to CO reaches 2075.7 ± 63.0 μmol g−1h−1 with a CO selectivity of 93.0 ± 0.8 %. This work provides new sights for the rational design and construction of S-scheme photocatalysts with sulfur vacancies for efficient photocatalysis.

In situ induced crosslinking highly conductive solid polymer electrolyte with intimated electrodes interfacial compatibility for safe Li-ion batteries

Nowadays, lower ionic conductivity and interfacial issue are hindering industrial development of solid-state lithium batteries. Herein, we prepare cross-linking solid polymer electrolytes (CSPEs) with a certain amount of additive fluorosulfonamide (FSA) by employing lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) as an initiator for catalyzing cationic ring-opening polymerization (CROP) via an in-situ thermal strategy. a series of technologies have used to investigate the physiochemical properties and electrochemical performances of as-prepared CSPEs. The ionic conductivity of as-prepared CSPE-2 is 1.46 mS/cm at 25 °C. Its electrochemical anodic oxidation potential is stable up to 5.2 V. Its lithium transference number (tLi+) reaches to 0.61 at room temperature (RT). Furthermore, the assembled half-cell of LiFePO4/CSPE-2/Li delivers an excellent initial discharge capacity of 165 mAh/g at 0.1C and shows Coulombic efficiency (CE) of 96.7%. It retains its capacity at 136 mAh/g after 200 cycles. Full cell configuration of LiFePO4/CSPE-2/graphite shows an initial discharge capacity of 142 mAh/g at 0.1C, retains its capacity at 122 mAh/g, and achieves a CE of 90.2% after 200 cycles. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) reveals an intimate interface compatibility with additive FSA. This study may provide a strategy to design and fabricate solid-state electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries.

In-situ fabrication of AgI/AgnMoxO3x+n/2/g-C3N4 ternary composite photocatalysts for benzotriazole degradation: Tuning the heterostructure, photocatalytic activity and photostability by the degree of molybdate polymerization

The degree of molybdate polymerization significantly affects the photocatalytic properties of molybdate-based photocatalysts. However, few studies have focused on this aspect. Herein, novel AgI/AgnMoxO3x+n/2/g-C3N4 ternary composites were constructed via a facile two-step in-situ synthesis approach. Photocatalytic activity of AgI/AgnMoxO3x+n/2/g-C3N4 was tested for the degradation of benzotriazole (BTA) in aqueous solution. We illustrated the intrinsic dependence of the band structure, dual built-in electric field, charge transfer mechanism and photocatalytic activity of AgI/AgnMoxO3x+n/2/g-C3N4 on the degree of molybdate polymerization. Tuning the polymerization degree of molybdate constituent in AgI/AgnMoxO3x+n/2/g-C3N4 can produce more advantageous band structures and dual built-in electric fields with different directions at the intimate contact interface. The charge transfer mechanism of undergoes a transition from dual type-II to a hybrid of type-II and Z-scheme and then to dual direct Z-scheme with the increase of the degree of molybdate polymerization, which can simultaneously enhance the photocatalytic activity and photostability of the AgI/AgnMoxO3x+n/2/g-C3N4 ternary heterojunction photocatalysts, achieving the effect of killing two birds with one stone. It was confirmed that AgI/AgnMoxO3x+n/2/g-C3N4 can be activated by visible light and employed as effective photocatalyst in photocatalytic degradation of BTA.