Simulated Sunlight Research Articles

The enhanced degradation of Bi4O5I2 photocatalyst to the various organic pollutants through the upconversion luminescence of Yb3+/Er3+

The types of pollutants in water environment are very complex, so it is very important to develop a photocatalyst that can have universal applicability to a variety of pollutants. In this study, Bi4O5I2 was modified by Yb3+ and Er3+ doping, and an efficient photocatalyst with upconversion luminescence was found. After heat treatment, the sample was transformed from BiOI to Bi4O5I2 (BI), and the crystallite size of BI was significantly reduced and the porosity increased, which provided more active sites for the photocatalytic reaction, and the photocatalytic performance of BI samples was greatly improved. Compared with Er3+ single doped samples (BIE), Yb3+ and Er3+ co-doping (BIYE) effectively promotes the photogenerated carrier migration. Under simulated sunlight, BiOI, BI, BIE and BIYE degraded 30.1%, 62.2%, 72.6% and 92.1% of RhB solution within 30 min of illumination, respectively. In addition, the degradation of MB, MO, carmine, phenol and TC by BIYE were also tested. The results show that BIYE has a good ability to degrade a variety of organic pollutants that are difficult to degrade. The results of photocurrent response test show that BIYE has a stable photocurrent response signal to near-infrared light, which means that BIYE can respond to near-infrared light. The upconversion luminescence of the sample was further investigated. The energy transfer between Yb3+ and Er3+ enhances the upconversion luminescence of Er3+, that is, the conversion of near-infrared light into visible light, which can be absorbed and utilized by Bi4O5I2 matrix. The degradation of RhB solution was tested under near-infrared conditions, and the results show that BIYE also has excellent photocatalytic ability under near-infrared light.

Characterizing the Impact of Cyanobacterial Blooms on the Photoreactivity of Surface Waters from New York Lakes: A Combined Statewide Survey and Laboratory Investigation.

Cyanobacterial blooms introduce autochthonous dissolved organic matter (DOM) into aquatic environments, but their impact on surface water photoreactivity has not been investigated through collaborative field sampling with comparative laboratory assessments. In this work, we quantified the apparent quantum yields (Φapp,RI) of reactive intermediates (RIs), including excited triplet states of dissolved organic matter (3DOM*), singlet oxygen (1O2), and hydroxyl radicals (•OH), for whole water samples collected by citizen volunteers from more than 100 New York lakes. Multiple comparisons tests and orthogonal partial least-squares analysis identified the level of cyanobacterial chlorophyll a as a key factor in explaining the enhanced photoreactivity of whole water samples sourced from bloom-impacted lakes. Laboratory recultivation of bloom samples in bloom-free lake water demonstrated that apparent increases in Φapp,RI during cyanobacterial growth were likely driven by the production of photoreactive moieties through the heterotrophic transformation of freshly produced labile bloom exudates. Cyanobacterial proliferation also altered the energy distribution of 3DOM* and contributed to the accelerated transformation of protriptyline, a model organic micropollutant susceptible to photosensitized reactions, under simulated sunlight conditions. Overall, our study provides insights into the relationship between the photoreactivity of surface waters and the limnological characteristics and trophic state of lakes and highlights the relevance of cyanobacterial abundance in predicting the photoreactivity of bloom-impacted surface waters.

The construction of Cs3MoxSbyBr9/BiVO4 S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst for efficient photocatalytic N2 fixation

Synergistic nitrogen (N2) reduction with water (H2O) oxidation is meaningful but challenging owing to the inertness of the N2 molecule and the sluggish kinetics of H2O oxidation. Herein, a simutaneous-promotion strategy of redox capacities is presented for constructing a lead-free Cs3Sb2Br9-based S-scheme heterojunction, by decorating Mo-functionalized Cs3Sb2Br9 nanocrystals (Cs3MoxSbyBr9) on BiVO4 nanosheet through an in-situ plane-to-point growth manner. The Mo-functionalization for Cs3Sb2Br9 enables the regulation of the d-band center position, greatly improving surface reaction kinetics for N2 reduction. Furthermore, the construction of the S-scheme heterojunction enhances the driving force for H2O oxidation and spatial charge separation of photocatalysts. As anticipated, the resultant Cs3MoxSbyBr9/BiVO4 exhibits an excellent photocatalytic N2 reduction activity under ambient atmosphere, achieving ammonia (NH3) production at a rate of 300 ± 5 μmol g−1 h−1 under simulated sunlight illumination (100 mW cm−2), which is nearly 20-fold higher than that of pristine Cs3Sb2Br9.

A p-n-p Configuration Based on the Cuprous Oxide/Silicon Tandem Photocathode for Accelerating Solar-Driven Hydrogen Evolution.

Photoelectrochemical splitting of water into hydrogen is a potential route to motivate the application of solar-driven conversion to clean energy but is regularly limited by its low efficiency. The key to addressing this issue is to design a suitable photocathode configuration for high-efficiency photogenerated carrier separation and transmission to photocathode-surface reaction sites. In this work, we report a Si-Cu2O tandem photocathode featuring a p-n-p configuration for solar-driven hydrogen evolution in an alkaline solution. Driven by this built-in field, the electrons induced from Si were transferred through FeOOH, which acted as electron tunnels, to combine with the holes from Cu2O, triggering more electrons generated from Cu2O to particiate in the surface reaction. Under simulated sunlight, the optimized photocathode achieved and maintained a photocurrent density of -11 mA/cm2 at 0 VRHE in alkaline conditions for 120 min, outperforming the reported tandem cell consisting of Si and Cu2O photocathodes. Our results provide valuable insight into a feasible way to construct an optimized photocathode for efficient solar-driven H2 evolution.

Use of graphitic carbon nitrides as solar-light-driven photocatalysts for the reduction of p-nitrobenzoic acid

The use of graphitic carbon nitrides (g-C3N4) as photocatalysts for the reduction of p-nitrobenzoic acid (PNBA) under simulated sunlight has been investigated. The photocatalysts were synthesized through the thermal polymerization of melamine and urea. The effects of the g-C3N4 precursor employed in the synthesis, the thermal exfoliation treatment, the addition of sacrificial agents, and the pH conditions were evaluated. It was found that the presence of carboxylic acids as sacrificial electron donors was required to attain the photocatalytic reduction of PNBA, while amines or alcohols did not lead to any activity for this purpose. Furthermore, it was observed that the precursor used in the synthesis of graphitic carbon nitride had a slight influence on the photocatalytic activity, whereas the thermal treatment of the bulk g-C3N4 materials exhibited a favourable effect. The best results were obtained upon addition of oxalic acid at pH = 3 using the carbon nitride exfoliated materials, achieving in these conditions the complete removal of PNBA after ca. 60min of irradiation. Time resolved profiles of p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) agree with an initial reduction of PNBA to form this compound, followed by oxidation of PABA by reactive oxygen species formed in the reaction medium.

Preferential heteroatom substitution into ZnIn2S4 nanosheets boosts photocatalytic hydrogen production

Interior modification through preferential substitution of heteroatoms in 2D materials can rescue surface reactive sites for enhanced charge kinetics and photo-activity. Here, Ru and Ni heteroatoms were successfully incorporated in ZnIn2S4 (ZIS) nanosheets via a simple hydrothermal technique. Ru-ZIS photocatalysts exhibited improved photo–water splitting activity (26,400 µmol. h-1g-1) and good stability than that of Ni-ZIS and pristine ZIS under simulated sunlight, which may be related to the increase in reactive sites with Ru substitution, optimized adsorption-free energy of the reaction intermediates and charge kinetics. Ru substitution influenced Zn site availability and thus coordinated bonding with surrounding S ions. Ru-ZIS showed excellent hydrogen evolution performance and minimal change in Gibbs free energy (ΔGH, ~0eV). By analyzing the density of states, both Ru and S sites had greater H* intermediate absorption abilities. This study elaborates on the effect of preferential heteroatom substitution on photocatalytic performance and has widespread applications.

Photocatalytic defluorination of ciprofloxacin by nitrogen-defected g-C3N4 under simulated sunlight: Mechanistic insight and pathway analysis

The photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) has been widely reported to be induced by ring cleavage and defluorination. However, the role of photo-generated reactive radicals, especially electrons, in defluorination remains controversial. This study investigates the effects of reactive radicals such as hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and electrons on CIP degradation and defluorination in photocatalytic processes by nitrogen-defected g-C3N4. Almost complete CIP degradation and 46.5 % defluorination were obtained under the best conditions tested. Scavenging tests, degradation intermediate product identification, and theoretical calculations were performed to explore the reaction routes driven by ·OH and electrons in depth. Scavenging tests revealed that ·OH and electrons were predominantly responsible for direct CIP defluorination, whereas electrons played an indirect role as critical intermediates for the formation of ·OH. Time-dependent intermediate evolution analysis demonstrated that CIP degradation mainly occurred by piperazine ring cleavage and defluorination. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations based on the Hirschfeld charge, Fukui index and electrostatic potential confirmed that zwitterionic CIP+- is more reactive than CIP+ and that the piperazine ring in CIP is susceptible to nucleophilic and radical attacks by ·O2– and ·OH. Finally, electron-assisted ·OH substitution and C-F bond cleavage were proposed as the main mechanisms for CIP defluorination. This study provides a thorough understanding of CIP defluorination mechanisms by nitrogen-defected g-C3N4-based photocatalysis.

Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of oxytetracycline by Z-scheme heterostructure ZIF-8/Bi4O5Br2

Semiconductor photocatalysis technology has a wide range of application in the treatment of environmental pollution. In this study, the Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst ZIF-8/Bi4O5Br2 was synthesized by hydrothermal method. The morphology, structure, mechanism and photocatalytic performance of the materials were studied. Under simulated sunlight illumination for 60minutes, the degradation efficiency of oxytetracycline (15mg·L-1) reached 94.2%. In light of density functional theory calculation and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, the attack sites and degradation pathways of OTC were determined. The consequence of free radical capture test and electron paramagnetic resonance detection showed that ·O2-, ·OH and h+ were the primary active substances. Based on the analysis above, the charge transfer principle of Z-scheme heterojunction was further elucidation. It inhibited the recombination of photo carriers and improved the photocatalytic performance. This work provides a hopeful measure for photocatalytic degradation of OTC by Z-scheme heterojunction composite.

Na-mediated carbon nitride realizing CO2 photoreduction with selectivity modulation

The depressed directional separation of photogenerated carriers and weak CO2 adsorption/activation activity are the main factors hampering the development of artificial photosynthesis. Herein, Na ions are embedded in graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) to achieve directional migration of the photo-generated electrons to Na sites, while the electron-rich Na sites enhance CO2 adsorption and activation. Na/g-C3N4 (NaCN) shows improved photocatalytic reduction activity of CO2 to CO and CH4, and under simulated sunlight irradiation, the CO yield of NaCN synthesized by embedding Na at 550 ℃ (NaCN-550) is 371.2 μmol g−1h−1, which is 58.9 times bigger than that of the monomer g-C3N4. By means of theoretical calculations and experiments including in situ FTIR, the mechanism is investigated. This strategy which improves carrier separation and reduces the energy barrier at the same time is important to the development of artificial photosynthesis.

Preparation of Bi4Ti3O12/TiO2 by flame spray pyrolysis for photoelectrocatalytic degradation of tetracycline

The negative effects of the irrational use of antibiotics have been increasing attention from the public, making it urgently needed to develop effective techniques for removing antibiotics from wastewater. Simultaneously, the construction of heterogeneous TiO2 photoanodes can be used to enhance photoelectrocatalytic performance. Herein, we used an advanced method, namely one-step flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) to in-situ prepare Bi4Ti3O12/TiO2 heterostructures. The ultra-high temperature characteristics of this method facilitated the high dispersion of Bi species on TiO2, leading to the formation of the Bi4Ti3O12 phase within milliseconds. Bi4Ti3O12 forms a "Z" type heterojunction with TiO2, improving charge separation and enhancing electron transfer efficiency. The photoeletrocatalytic degradation effect of Bi4Ti3O12/TiO2 on tetracycline is significantly improved. Under simulated sunlight irradiation for 75 min and 1V voltage, the removal of tetracycline can reach 99.7%. The recycling degradation experiments demonstrated the remarkable reusability and stability of Bi4Ti3O12/TiO2, while the evaluation of degradation intermediates and toxicity analysis of tetracycline were also conducted. Furthermore, free radical trapping experiments confirmed that hydroxyl radicals and holes play a significant role in the removal of tetracycline.

Exploring the aqueous photodegradation of three ionisable macrolide antibiotics: Kinetics, intermediates and photoinduced toxicity

Three macrolide antibiotics (MLs, i.e., roxithromycin, clarithromycin and spiramycin) were investigated to reveal the aqueous photochemistry of the respective neutral and dissociated species (i.e., H2MLs+, HMLs0 and MLs−), including their susceptibility to direct photolysis as well as the hydroxyl radical (•OH) and singlet oxygen (1O2) mediated photooxidation. Under simulated sunlight (λ > 290 nm), no obvious or slow photodegradation of the three MLs were observed in pure water, while they photodegraded rapidly under shorter wavelength irradiation (λ > 200 nm). It was further found that the dependence of the kinetics on pH was attributed to the different reactivities of the dissociation species. The rate constants and cumulative light absorption increased with the order H2MLs+ < HMLs0 < MLs−. Based on competition kinetic experiments and matrix calculations, MLs− was differentiated to be more highly reactive towards •OH/1O2. The corresponding environmental half-lives were evaluated considering the reactivities and proportions of the speciated forms at different pH, indicating that 1O2 oxidation (t1O2,E = 1.83–2.53 h) contributed more than •OH oxidation (t•OH,E = 33.17–787.49 h) to the ML phototransformation in sunlit surface waters. In general, these reactions preserved the core backbone structures of the parent ML molecules and gave rise to intermediates that displayed higher toxicity to Vibrio fischeri than the parent molecules, hence demonstrating photo-modified toxicity. These results are of importance towards the goal of assessing the persistence of MLs during wastewater treatment using UV-light tertiary treatment processes, as well as in sunlit surface waters.

Photovoltaic-driven electro-reforming of poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste plastics and nitrate pollutants

The electrochemical conversion of waste plastics and nitrate pollutants has advantages in the simultaneous achievement of value-added chemical production and environmental pollutants remediation. Here, we report a photovoltaic-driven electro-reforming strategy to convert poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) to platform chemical formic acid, and simultaneously reduce nitrate to ammonia. This strategy directly uses commercial silicon photovoltaic panel as the power source that achieves the oxidation of PET hydrolysate to produce formic acid by NiCo2O4/N-doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) anode, and the reduction of nitrate-containing wastewater to produce ammonia by CuO nanowires (NWs) cathode. This integrated system exhibits a high Faraday efficiency of 98 % for formic acid production and conversion of 90 % for nitrate under 30 mW cm−2 simulated sunlight. This study suggests that photovoltaic-driven electro-reforming of PET waste plastic coupled with nitrate reduction could be a feasible strategy to realize the sustainable production of chemicals from environmental pollutants.

Substrate-Independent Superhydrophobic Coating Capable of Photothermal-Induced Repairability for Multiple Damages Fabricated via Simple Blade Coating.

Repairable superhydrophobic surfaces have promising application potential in many fields. However, so far, it is still a challenge to develop a superhydrophobic surface with repairability for multiple types of damage through a simple method. In this paper, a repairable superhydrophobic coating was obtained on various substrates by blade-coating mixtures of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) modified with dopamine (PDA) and octadecylamine (ODA). The obtained coating has a good liquid-repellent property with a water contact angle above 150° and a water sliding angle of ∼6° and possesses an excellent absorbance (∼97%) in the wavelength range of 250-2500 nm. Due to its high absorbance, the coating displays an outstanding photothermal effect with a temperature rise of ∼65 °C under irradiation by 1.0 kW/m2 of simulated sunlight. Furthermore, after being degraded by multiple stimuli, including plasma treatment, acid/alkali/oil immersion, sand impact, and the icing-thawing cycle, the coating can recover superhydrophobicity via sunlight irradiation, demonstrating the good photothermal-induced repairability of the coating. It can be expected that the good water-repellent property, photothermal effect, and repairability give this coating a promising prospect in practical applications.

Synergistically electronic interacted PVDF/CdS/TiO2 organic-inorganic photocatalytic membrane for multi-field driven panel wastewater purification

Solar-driven wastewater purification technology is a promising candidate to solve the hazards of water contaminants. However, it is difficult for most of particulate photocatalysts to maintain durable photoactivity due to its micro/nano size. Herein, a synergistically electronic interacted membrane catalyst with large extending area and high pollutant capture capacity was processed based on a highly active CdS/TiO2 heterojunction and ferroelectric polyvinylidene fluoride for achieving highly efficient Cr6+-to-Cr3+ (CTC) reduction (1.6×10−2 min−1) and synchronous decomposition of organic matters (methylene blue (1.2×10−2 min−1) and bisphenol A (0.6×10−2 min−1)) under simulated sunlight (SSL, 74.1 mW·cm−2) irradiation following a durably steady photoactivity even being recycled for 20 times, which effectively avoided the hazards of secondary pollution. Subsequently, a tailor-made panel wastewater purification system was first built based on this membrane catalyst to drive CTC reduction and synchronous organic matter degradation, and high-efficiency purification performance was presented on this panel system under multi-field drive of light-activation and piezoelectric polarization. This work provides an insight for photocatalytic wastewater purification through membrane catalyst assisted panel technology.

Enhancing fire safety, electromagnetic interference shielding, and photothermal conversion performances of wearable polyamide fabrics through eco-friendly coatings

The demand for smart textiles in wearable technology has significantly increased in the last decade. However, the inherent flammability of most textiles poses a big challenge, especially when exposed to elevated surface temperatures induced by electrical or optical stimuli, increasing the risk of fire. The process of synthesizing flame retardants involves the use of organic solvents, which is not in line with the requirements of sustainable development. This research focuses on establishing an eco-friendly and stable coating for polyamide 6 (PA6) fabric through a solvent-free synthesis and innovative alternating deposition method. It has been demonstrated that the treated PA6 fabric exhibits rapid self-extinguishing properties, eliminating melt dripping and achieving a remarkable limiting oxygen index of 25.5%. Furthermore, the peak heat release rate and total heat release rate of the treated PA6 fabric decrease by 32.9% and 22.7%, respectively, compared to that of the control PA6. Under simulated sunlight exposure at an intensity of 150 mW·cm−2, the treated PA6 fabric rapidly reaches a surface temperature of 78.6 °C within 300 s. Additionally, the treated PA6 fabric demonstrates an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding efficiency of 24.0 dB in the X-band, highlighting the efficacy of the innovative coating. This result is attributed to the conductive network formed by the alternating deposition of MXene and polyphosphamide. This work not only improves the fire safety in wearable textiles but also presents a promising and green strategy for developing multifunctional wearable textiles with enhanced safety features.

Photonic enhanced flexible photothermoelectric generator using MXene coated fullerenes modified PEDOT:PSS films for solar energy harvesting

Photothermoelectric conversion technology from light and heat into electricity has been proved to be an effective method and associated with photothermal and thermoelectric (TE) effects. Wherein, there are great challenges in the structural design that the cold and hot side distribution in planar structure limits the selection of materials to obtain the high output voltage. Here, the half-vertical heterojunction structure of the photothermoelectric generator (PTEG) is adopted for enhanced performance to realize effective energy utilization. The PTEG is constituted by the MXene half-coated fullerenes-modified PEDOT:PSS to obtain wide spectral response. The output voltage of the prepared PTEG can be stabilized at 2.15 mV under the irradiation of a laser wavelength 808 nm with power of 25 mW. Under simulated sunlight irradiation, with the assistant of fullerenes, the output voltage was improved by 43.83 % from 146 to 210μ V. Furthermore, the voltage can be enhanced by TE voltage increasement via temperature gradient, and the 66.19 % increment of output voltage is evaluated from 210 to 349 μV. In addition, PTEG has also excellent electrothermal effect, which was applied into detecting whether the battery is fully charged via adhering to thermal sensitive materials. By means of half-vertical heterojunction structure to the PTEG, a new choice for the PTEG is provided to make better use of sunlight.

Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in actual sewage water with a full-spectrum-responsive NaYF4:Yb,Tm@NaYF4:Yb,Nd@TiO2@g-C3N4 nanoheterojunction photocatalyst

Full spectrum-excitation photocatalysis is promising for the environmentally friendly treatment of actual sewage with sunlight. High-efficiency, stable NaYF4:Yb,Tm@NaYF4:Yb,Nd@TiO2@g-C3N4 (UPTC) nanoheterojunction photocatalysts were fabricated via facile chemical synthesis. Nanophotocatalyst characterization revealed good crystallinity, strong composite formation, and a high separation rate of photoexcited charges. The synthesized UPTC was excited by ultraviolet, visible light and infrared light, exhibiting excellent full spectrum-response. Under near-infrared irradiation at 808 nm and 980 nm, UPTC effectively degraded rhodamine B (RhB). Under simulated sunlight, UPTC decomposed 88.6% malachite green, 92.2% rose bengal, and 90.8% RhB in 90 min. In photocatalysis, ·O2- played a dominant role. Moreover, the nanoheterojunction structure greatly improved photoexcited carrier separation. UPTC nanoheterojunction had excellent recycling capability. In actual sewage treatment, UPTC degraded 36.5% ammonia-nitrogen under simulated sunlight. In addition, UPTC exhibited sufficient biosafety. This study offers a fresh potential approach for producing highly efficient, stable, and biosafe nanoheterojunction photocatalysts for sewage treatment.

Efficient Catalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange by Various ZnO-Doped Lignin-Based Carbons.

Herein, a series of ZnO-doped lignin-based carbons (LC/ZnO) were successfully prepared from different types of lignin and used for methyl orange (MO) photocatalytic degradation. The apparent morphology, internal structure, and photoelectric properties of prepared LC/ZnO composites and their effects on subsequent MO photocatalytic degradation were investigated by various characterization techniques. The results showed that the LC/ZnO composites that were prepared in this work mainly consisted of highly dispersed ZnO nanoparticles and lignin-based carbon nano-sheets, which were beneficial for subsequent photogenerated electrons and holes formation, dispersion, and migration. The MO could be significantly degraded with various ZnO-doped lignin-based carbons, especially over the LCSL/ZnO, and the maximum degradation rate was 96.9% within 30 min under the simulated 300w sunlight exposure. The experiments of free radical elimination showed that the photocatalytic degradation of MO over LC/ZnO were a result of the co-action of multiple free radicals, and h+ might play the predominant roles in MO degradation. In addition, the pH of the solution had little effect on MO degradation, and the MO could be effectively degraded even in an alkaline solution of pH = 12.0. The cycling experiments showed that the prepared LC/ZnO had a good stability for MO photodegradation, especially for LCSL/ZnO, even after 5 times recycling, and the degradation rate of MO only dropped from 97.0% to 93.0%. The research not only provided a fundamental theory for the efficient photocatalytic degradation of MO by LC/ZnO composites, but also offered a new insight into lignin valorization.

Plasmonic Au@Ag Core-Shell Nanoisland Film for Photothermal Inactivation and Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Detection of Bacteria.

Plasmonic metal nanomaterials have been extensively investigated for their utilizations in biomedical sensing and treatment. In this study, plasmonic Au@Ag core-shell nanoisland films (Au@AgNIFs) were successfully grown onto a glass substrate using a seed-mediated growth procedure. The nanostructure of the Au@AgNIFs was confirmed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The UV-Vis spectra of the Au@AgNIFs exhibited a broad absorption in the visible range from 300 to 800 nm because of the surface plasmon absorption. Under simulated sunlight exposure, the temperature of optimal Au@AgNIF was increased to be 66.9 °C to meet the requirement for photothermal bacterial eradication. Furthermore, the Au@AgNIFs demonstrated a consistent photothermal effect during the cyclic on/off exposure to light. For photothermal therapy, the Au@AgNIFs revealed superior efficiency in the photothermal eradication of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). With their unique nanoisland nanostructure, the Au@AgNIFs exhibited excellent growth efficiency of bacteria in comparison with that of the bare glass substrate. The Au@AgNIFs were also validated as a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate to amplify the Raman signals of E. coli and S. aureus. By integrating photothermal therapy and SERS detection, the Au@AgNIFs were revealed to be a potential platform for bacterial theranostics.

Construction of Bi2O3−x/NiAl-LDH S-scheme heterojunction for boosting photothermal-assisted photocatalytic CO2 reduction

In this study, a new type of 2D/2D Bi2O3−x/NiAl-LDH (BO/NA-LDH) S-scheme photocatalyst was prepared by combining NiAl-LDH with Bi2O3−x by wet chemical deposition for obtaining efficient photothermal-assisted photocatalytic reduction of CO2 under simulated sunlight irradiation. In particular, the as-prepared optimal 50-BO/NA-LDH sample exhibited the CO production yield of 83.55 ± 2.76 μmol/g/h, which was 9 and 27 times that of BO (9.32 ± 0.62 μmol/g/h) and NA-LDH (3.09 ± 0.38 μmol/g/h), respectively. The enhancement of photothermal-assisted activity over the 50-BO/NA-LDH system was mainly attributed to the coupling of the photothermal conversion performance of Bi2O3−x and improving the migration efficiency of interface carriers of S-scheme heterojunction and 2D/2D structure. This study presents a promising strategy for the development of high-efficient photothermal-assisted photocatalysts.