Synergistic Interface Research Articles

High-performance ZnO:CuO composite-based fiber-shaped electrode for non-enzymatic glucose sensing in biological fluids

The growing diabetes epidemic necessitates new glucose sensors, as traditional enzyme-based and planar electrodes face limitations in environmental stability and seamless integration into wearable technology. This research tackles these issues by designing a flexible, enzyme-free glucose sensor utilizing a co-deposited ZnO:CuO (CZ) composite on PET monofilament. This approach improves the tensile strength (55 mm at 2.7 kg.f) and electrical conductance (0.32 S), of the Ni-coated PET fiber, resulting in a strong and reliable sensing platform. The electrode's enlarged electrochemical surface area (0.11 cm2), offer a high density of active sites for glucose interaction, and the synergistic interface significantly enhances both ion and charge mobility. This results in exceptional sensitivity (35.05 mA.cm−2.mM−1), a rapid response (24 s), and a low detection limit (0.15 mM). Durability tests demonstrate that the sensor retains 80% of its sensitivity after 500 bending cycles, making it well-suited for wearable applications. Furthermore, the sensor accurately detects glucose in biological samples, such as saliva, highlighting its potential for non-invasive, real-time glucose monitoring in wearable healthcare systems.

Synergistic ZnO-NiO composites for superior Fiber-Shaped Non-Enzymatic glucose sensing

The rise in diabetes requires new glucose sensors, as traditional enzyme-based and planar electrodes are sensitive to the environment and hard to integrate into wearables. This study addresses these issues by developing a flexible, non-enzymatic glucose sensor using a co-sputtered ZnO: NiO (NZ) composite on PET fiber. This design enhances the tensile strength (60 mm at 3.2 kg.f) and conductance (0.23 S) of Cu-coated PET fiber, forming a durable sensing platform. The electrode’s enhanced electrochemical surface area (0.13 cm2) offers abundant active sites for glucose interaction, while the synergistic interface effect boosts ion and charge transport, improving glucose sensing. The sensor achieves high sensitivity (28.96 mA·cm−2·mM−1), fast response time (23 s), and a low detection limit (0.25 mM), while maintaining 78 % of its sensitivity after 500 bending cycles. These features, combined with good electrochemical stability—retaining 60 % of its initial performance after prolonged electrolyte exposure—mark a significant advancement in wearable glucose monitoring.

Synergistic interface engineering of ZnCo2O4/NiMnCo-layered double hydroxides for boosted reactivity in advanced supercapacitor electrodes

NiMn layered double hydroxide (LDH) exhibits high redox activity as a cathode material for hybrid supercapacitors, but it has the disadvantages of low conductivity and poor stability. In this work, the electrochemical properties of NiMnCo-LDH with different Co contents prepared by electrodeposition were tested. The results showed that the addition of an appropriate amount Co increased the adsorption of OH− on NiMn-LDH and improved the reactivity of the material. ZnCo-MOF grown on carbon cloth was transformed into flake ZnCo2O4 by calcination, and NiMnCo-LDH was electrodeposited on it to prepare ZnCo2O4/NiMnCo-LDH composite electrode. The core-shell structure increases the reaction area between the LDH material and the electrolyte. Physical characterization and density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that the structure and electronic distribution of ZnCo2O4/NiMnCo-LDH at the heterogeneous interface are reconstructed, which increases the valence state of Co and Mn elements, and finally exhibits enhanced electrochemical performance. Due to the existence of this synergistic effect, the specific capacity of the electrode is as high as 231.5 mAh g−1, with excellent stability demonstrated after 5000 cycles compared to the NiMnCo-LDH. The assembled hybrid supercapacitor exhibits a high energy density of 39.4 Wh kg−1, and has high cycle stability (90 % after 5000 cycles).

Revealing the role of 1T- & 2H- molybdenum Disulfide/Nickel sulfide heterojunction for efficient overall water splitting

In the ongoing quest for cost-effective and durable electrocatalysts for hydrogen production—a critical element of sustainable energy transformation—the 1T phase of Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2) faces challenges due to its thermodynamic instability and the trade-off between efficiency and durability. Conversely, the 2H phase of MoS2, often disregarded in favor of the metallic 1T phase, suffers from its inert nature and limited active sites. To overcome these limitations, this study employs a straightforward hydrothermal synthesis strategy that couples both 1T and 2H phases of MoS2 with Ni3S2, forming 1T- and 2H- MoS2/Ni3S2 heterojunctions. Enhanced by Ni3S2′s abundant active sites, improved electron transport capabilities, synergistic interface effects, and better structural stability, these heterojunctions achieve a high current density exceeding 500 mA cm−2 at low overpotentials, along with prolonged durability for both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline electrolytes. Remarkably, an electrolyzer assembly utilizing 1T-MoS2/Ni3S2 as the cathode and 2H-MoS2/Ni3S2 as the anode demonstrates a competitive voltage of 1.58 V at 20 mA cm−2, showcasing superior performance in overall water splitting compared to other non-noble metal-based electrocatalysts. This study not only offers a viable method for synthesizing efficient and stable electrocatalysts for water splitting using transition metal-based heterogeneous structures but also addresses the fundamental challenges associated with 1T and 2H phases of MoS2.

Flower-like B-FeNiCoP/NF prepared by NaBH4 treatment for water splitting

This paper presents the preparation of a flower-like heterostructure self-supporting working electrode for the purpose of designing an electrolytic water catalyst with high stability and catalytic activity. The study investigates the impact of different ratios of nickel, cobalt, and iron on the microstructure and catalytic performance of the electrode. It was found that a Fe:Ni:Co ratio of 1:1:1 resulted in fluffy nanowires dispersed on nanosheets of flower-like nanoflowers, leading to an increase in specific surface area. Additionally, the heterogeneous structure of NiCoP and Fe2P significantly enhanced the catalytic performance of the electrode. The exceptional electrocatalytic performance of B-FeNiCoP/NF can be attributed to the synergistic interface effect and the presence of numerous exposed active sites. In the electrochemical evaluation of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), an overpotential of 185.5 mV at a current density of 100 mA cm−2 has been identified as sufficient, with a difference of 35.9 mV compared to Pt-C and a Tafel slope of 58.3 mV/dec. In the assessment of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), an overpotential of 301.8 mV at a current density of 100 mA cm−2 was found necessary, with a discrepancy of 18.2 mV compared to RuO2 and a Tafel slope of 69.5 mV/dec. The stability assessment of the HER and OER at a current density of 100 mA cm−2 over a duration of 48 hours demonstrated exceptional stability. This study introduces a hydrothermal pretreatment method for sodium borohydride, which has the potential to enhance the phosphorylation of catalytic application systems.

Reducing nonradiative recombination for highly efficient inverted perovskite solar cells via a synergistic bimolecular interface

Reducing interface nonradiative recombination is important for realizing highly efficient perovskite solar cells. In this work, we develop a synergistic bimolecular interlayer (SBI) strategy via 4-methoxyphenylphosphonic acid (MPA) and 2-phenylethylammonium iodide (PEAI) to functionalize the perovskite interface. MPA induces an in-situ chemical reaction at the perovskite surface via forming strong P-O-Pb covalent bonds that diminish the surface defect density and upshift the surface Fermi level. PEAI further creates an additional negative surface dipole so that a more n-type perovskite surface is constructed, which enhances electron extraction at the top interface. With this cooperative surface treatment, we greatly minimize interface nonradiative recombination through both enhanced defect passivation and improved energetics. The resulting p-i-n device achieves a stabilized power conversion efficiency of 25.53% and one of the smallest nonradiative recombination induced Voc loss of only 59 mV reported to date. We also obtain a certified efficiency of 25.05%. This work sheds light on the synergistic interface engineering for further improvement of perovskite solar cells.

Simultaneously determining dopamine, acetaminophen and chlorpromazine with high performance on coordinated functional acupuncture needle electrode

Developing fast and sensitive methods to simultaneously analyze neurotransmitter and drug is of scientific significance for diagnosing and treating neurological diseases. Acupuncture can adjust and balance the blood gas, yin and yang and other physiological states through inserting acupuncture needle into the patient’s body, so as to treat diseases, care health and strengthen body. In this study, the stainless-steel needle was used as electrode matrix for the sensor. Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), polydopamine (PDA) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were layer-by-layer modified onto the bare acupuncture needle (AN) through green and environment-friendly method, and the new interface showed efficient performance for simultaneous monitoring dopamine (DA), acetaminophen (AC) and chlorpromazine (CPZ). It was interesting that the synergistic interface of MWCNTs, PDA and AuNPs exhibits effect conductivity, and high electrocatalytic activity for three molecules. The sensor optimally exhibits wide linear ranges of 0.08–100 and 100–1000 μM for DA, 0.07–100 and 100–1000 μM for AC, 0.1–100 and 100–450 μM for CPZ, respectively. The low detection limits are 0.015, 0.012, and 0.022 µM correspondingly, which are competitively compared to previous reports. In addition, the sensor exhibits good anti-interference ability in the presence of excessive interference. The sensor can successfully monitor DA, AC and CPZ in human serum and urine with the recovery rates from 97.2 % to 102.6 %. The sensor showed good repeatability, stability, and reproducibility. The simultaneous detection of needlelike sensor should play important roles in biomedicine.

Synergistic Interface Platforms: Designing Superhydrophilic Conductive Nanoparticle‐Decorated Nanofibrous Membranes

AbstractIn today's technological landscape, advancing methods for producing conductive membranes that simplify and streamline the development of advanced interface materials is crucial. This study introduces a versatile and innovative method for fabricating superhydrophilic, conductive nanofibrous membranes based on the in situ synthesis of polypyrrole nanoparticles on poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF‐HFP) electrospun fibers. The composite membranes morphologically exhibit a particle‐decorated nanofibrous configuration, with polypyrrole nanoparticles distributed along the individual fibers' surface. The nanoparticle‐nanofiber configuration shows distinctive properties; electrochemically, the electrospun mats demonstrate excellent inherent electrical conductivity, good cyclic and high electrochemical stability, and low resistance. Furthermore, the amphiphilic and superhydrophilic behavior, achieved through nanotopography, porosity and interactions between the intrinsically conductive polymer and the PVDF‐HFP fibers, enables efficient uptake of polar and nonpolar analytes. The membranes also demonstrate good in vitro cell viability of both murine and human fibroblasts. Given its efficient interaction with liquids and omnidirectional 360‐degree conductivity, this material emerges as an excellent candidate for use as a biocompatible, multifunctional interface layer. The produced nanoparticle‐nanofibrous membrane materials offer a promising platform for interface applications, featuring enhanced spatiotemporal configurations and wide‐ranging applicability.

Interface engineering of three-phase nickel–cobalt sulfide/nickel phosphide/iron phosphide heterostructure for enhanced water splitting and urea electrolysis

Rational designing efficient transition metal-based multifunctional electrocatalysts is highly desirable for improving the efficiency of hydrogen production from water cracking. Herein, a self-supported three-phase heterostructure electrocatalyst of nickel–cobalt sulfide/nickel phosphide/iron phosphide (CoNi5S8-Ni2P-FeP2) was prepared by a two-step gas-phase sulfurization/phosphorization strategy. The heterostructure in CoNi5S8-Ni2P-FeP2 provides a favorable interfacial environment for electron transfer and synergistic interaction of multiphase active components, while the introduced electronegative P/S not only serves as a carrier for proton capture in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) process but also promotes the metal-electron outflow, which in turn accelerates the generation of high-valent Ni3+ species to enhance the catalytic activity of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and urea oxidation reaction (UOR). As expected, CoNi5S8-Ni2P-FeP2 reveals excellent multifunctional electrocatalytic properties. An overpotential of 35/215 mV is required to reach 10 mA cm−2 for HER/OER. More encouragingly, a current of 100 mA cm−2 requires only 1.36 V for UOR with CoNi5S8-Ni2P-FeP2 as anode, which is much lower as compared to the OER (1.50 V). Besides, a two-electrode water/urea electrolyzer assembled based on CoNi5S8-Ni2P-FeP2 has a voltage of only 1.59/1.48 V when the system reaches 50 mA cm−2. This work provides a new idea for the design of energy-efficient water/urea-assisted water-splitting multifunctional catalysts with multi-component heterostructure synergistic interface engineering.

The interface mechanism of ball-milled natural pyrite activating persulfate to degrade monochlorobenzene in soil: Intrinsic synergism of S and Fe species

Ball-milled natural pyrite has been proven to be an efficient and economical catalyst for persulfate (PDS) activation; however, the synergistic interface mechanism between S and Fe species transformation remains a large challenge. Herein, ball-milled pyrite was used in the degradation of monochlorobenzene (MCB) from soil, and the surface characteristics and identification of the S and Fe species in the ball-milled natural pyrite during the Fenton-like reaction were reported. The pyrite/PDS system was found to eliminate 93.8 % of the 95.6 mg/kg MCB in the soil. Ball milling changed the fundamental pathway of reactive species (RS) generation, and the FeIV contribution increased to 33.0 % for MCB degradation. Compared with heterogeneous activation, homogeneous activation induced by dissolved Fe(II) played an important role. Self-oxidation induced by sulfur vacancy sites (SVs) also occurred during MCB degradation (30.8 %). An exploration of the mechanism of the interfacial reaction at the microscopic level revealed that ball milling promoted the formation of SVs and increased the reducibility of S(-II) on pyrite, thus accelerating Fe(III) reduction and Fe(II) dissolution, limiting the generation of an Fe(III) passivation layer at the pyrite–water interface and promoting RS generation for MCB degradation. These findings provide new insights into the interface mechanism for PDS activation in a ball-milled pyrite/PDS system.

Multiscale bridged and synergistic interface engineering of Ga2O3@rGO as an anode for lithium-ion batteries

Ga2O3 has been used as an anode for lithium batteries due to its high theoretical capacity. However, limited electronic conductivity and severe volume expansion limit its application. Herein, to circumvent these issues, we proposed to design multiscale interface of Ga2O3@rGO. It was synthesized to achieve superior multiplicative performance (218 mAh g−1 at 5.0 A g−1) and cycling performance (428.7 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 100 mAh g−1). These findings suggest that the nanoscale morphology of Ga2O3 and nanographene work together to promote electron transfer, ultimately enhancing the cycling stability of the composites.

Efficient Electron Transfer across Strontium Titanate Decorated Graphene Oxide for High‐Performance Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells and Photocatalytic Degradation of Dye and Antibiotic

AbstractUnderstanding synergistic interface features is a crucial step towards adjustable and controllable interfaces for photocatalytic and photovoltaic devices. In this work, a novel layer‐structured rGO hybrid with SrTiO3 (STO/rGO) based binary composite has developed via hydrothermal method. The highly stable STO/rGO is used to construct a dual‐functional platform for dye, antibiotic degradation and DSSC. The photocatalytic activities of STO/rGO composites were examined using Methylene Blue (MB) and Tetracycline (TC) degradation in an aqueous solution under white light irradiation. The catalyst containing STG‐3 exhibited outstanding photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 93.06 % and 95.23 % toward MB and TC, respectively. In addition, the hybrid composites‐based photoanode had the most outstanding efficiency of 3.74 % with an increase in JSC. The performance is far better than pristine STO. The improved efficiency is ascribed to the strong interconnectivity, excellent crystallinity, higher surface area and high porosity, which results in reduced interfacial charge recombination loss, outstanding dye adsorption and better electron transport. Furthermore, a predicted mechanism is provided to explain the higher performance of STO/rGO hybrid composites.

Approaching 100% Comprehensive Utilization Rate of Ultra‐Stable Zn Metal Anodes by Constructing Chitosan‐Based Homologous Gel/Solid Synergistic Interface

AbstractAqueous Zn–metal batteries are considered promising candidates for next‐generation energy storage. However, low zinc utilization rate (ZUR) and limited cycle life are still hinder its commercial application because of severe parasitic side effects. Herein, inspired by the wound healing process, an innovative electrode recovery technology is developed to improve the comprehensive ZUR and prolong the cycling life through repetitive rejuvenation of zinc anode by designing chitosan‐based homologous gel/solid synergistic electrolyte. The designed synergistic electrolyte, consisting of protonated chitosan gel electrolyte and Zn‐chitosan solid electrolyte, exhibits superior zinc ion diffusion capability and low free‐water activity, leading to dendrite‐free Zn deposition and HER inhibition. Moreover, through proton neutralization and zinc ion complexation, the formulated electrolyte can implement the rejuvenation of zinc anode by smoothing interfacial defects and eliminating parasitic byproducts. Consequently, the gel/solid synergistic electrolyte displays reversible Zn plating/stripping chemistry for 4000 cycles with high average Coulombic efficiency (99.8%) and realizes comprehensive ZUR of 97.4% through four iterations of electrode recover under extreme conditions (20 mA cm−2, 31.5% Zn depth of discharge), noticeably higher than zinc electrode with no recover (11.8%). Furthermore, the superiority of customized synergistic electrolyte is further demonstrated by coupling with I2 cathode and achieving impressive 36 000 stable cycles.

Synergistic interface and structural engineering for high initial coulombic efficiency and stable sodium storage in metal sulfides.

Transition metal sulfides (TMS) have gained significant attention as potential anode materials for sodium ion batteries (SIBs) due to their high theoretical capacity and abundance in nature. Nevertheless, their practical use has been impeded by challenges such as large volume changes, unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), and low initial coulombic efficiency (ICE). To address these issues and achieve both long-term cycling stability and high ICE simultaneously, we present a novel approach involving surface engineering, termed as the "dual-polar confinement" strategy, combined with interface engineering to enhance the electrochemical performance of TMS. In this approach, CoS crystals are meticulously coated with polar TiO2 and embedded within a polar S-doped carbon matrix, forming a composite electrode denoted as CoS/TiO2-SC. Significantly, an ether-based electrolyte with chemical stability and optimized solvation properties synergistically interacts with the Co-S-C bonds to create a stable, ultra-thin SEI. This concerted effect results in a notably high ICE, reaching approximately 96%. Advanced characterization and theoretical simulations confirm that the uniform surface modification effectively facilitates sodium ion transport kinetics, restrains electrode pulverization, and concurrently enhances interaction with the ether-based electrolyte to establish a robust SEI. Consequently, the CoS/TiO2-SC electrode exhibits high reversible capacity, superior rate capability, and outstanding cycling stability.

Dendrite-free deposition and side-reaction suppression of zinc anodes achieved via constructing synergistic interface buffer layers

Constructing a bifunctional buffer layer for the zinc anode (δ-MnO2@Zn) effectively adsorbs Zn2+ and reduces the bound water in Zn2+ solvent shell for uniform Zn deposition. The symmetric cell achieving a long cycle life of over 890 h at 1 mA cm−2.

Synergistic interface engineering and structural optimization of Fe-BDC/CoWO4/NF electrodes for super-efficient seawater oxidation

Designing and developing high-efficient and durable non-precious-metal oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts is relevant for hydrogen generation from seawater splitting. Herein, a novel interfacial-coupled Fe-BDC/CoWO4/NF nanosheet array has been demonstrated via a two-step solvothermal method, which can effectively accelerate OER with an ultra-low overpotential of 254 mV at 100 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH. More interestingly, it exhibits overpotentials of 290, 296, and 301 mV at 100 mA cm−2, when using 1.0 M KOH with 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 M NaCl as simulated seawater and a lifetime of more than 250 h. The excellent performance for OER is benefit from the distinctive interfacial-structure, optimizing the OER process energy barrier of and lowering the adsorption energy of oxygen-containing intermediates, effectively speeding up the OER kinetics. This work opens a new strategy for designing versatile base metal OER electrocatalysts.

Homogenous conduction: Stable multifunctional gel polymer electrolyte for lithium-sulfur batteries

The low sulfur utilization rate and polysulfide shuttle are the main reasons that hinder the practical process of lithium-sulfur batteries. Here, an effective structural engineering strategy of multifunctional gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) by electrospinning was proposed. The HCNF@HPAN-GPE for lithium-sulfur batteries contained halloysite-base carbon nanofibers (HCNF) offered abundant active sites as sulfur fixation layer and halloysite-base polyacrylonitrile (HPAN) provided ion transport channel as ion transport layer. Both layers were abundant in the halloysite nanotubes as “transduction segment” and established the synergistic interface conduction. The HCNF@HPAN-GPE exhibited an ionic conductivity of 8.01 × 10−3 S cm−1. Therefore, the HCNF@HPAN-GPE displayed excellent interface compatibility and stabilized lithium deposition/ stripping over 800 h. Meanwhile, it demonstrated an initial discharge specific capacity of 1461.2 mA h g−1 at 0.1 C and an ultra-low-capacity attenuation of 0.056 % per cycle of 800 cycles at 1 C. In sum, this study may provide a novel strategy for the effective design of GPE toward the high performance lithium-sulfur batteries.

Engineering heterogeneous synergistic interface and multifunctional cobalt-iron site enabling high-performance oxygen evolution reaction

It has been extensively researched that oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline conditions involves dynamic surface restructuring. In particular, the development and design of sulfide/oxide pre-catalyst can reasonably adjust the composition and structure after surface reconstruction, which is very important for oxygen evolution reaction. Herein, a simple two-step hydrothermal method was used to achieve in situ S leaching and doping by precipitation-dissolution equilibrium, inducing the composition change and structure reconstruction of CoFe oxides. In addition, the cross-linked nanosheet structure generated in situ widely exposes the active area, and the crystal/amorphous interface accelerates the charge and mass transfer efficiency. The structurally transformed FeOOH and CoOOH showed excellent OER activity, with overpotentials of 299 and 322.2 mV at 50 and 100 mA cm−2, significantly superior to one-step or uncured catalysts. Low-cost iron based materials combined with simple methods can be easily mass-produced. This provides an opportunity for the effective design of heterogeneous surface reconfigurable electrocatalysts for practical water electrolysis.

Unlocking the potential of silicon anodes in lithium-ion batteries: A claw-inspired binder with synergistic interface bonding

Binders play a crucial role in enhancing the cycling stability of silicon anodes in next-generation Li-ion batteries. However, traditional linear polymer binders have difficulty withstanding the volume expansion of silicon during cycling. Herein, inspired by the fact that animals’ claws can grasp objects firmly, a claw-like taurine-grafted-poly (acrylic acid) binder (Tau-g-PAA) is designed to improve the electrochemical performance of silicon anodes. The synergistic effects of different polar groups (sulfo and carboxyl) in Tau-g-PAA facilitate the formation of multidimensional interactions with silicon nanoparticles and the diffusion of Li ions, thereby greatly improving the stability and rate performance of silicon anodes, which aligns with results from density functional theory (DFT) simulations. As expected, a Tau-g-PAA/Si electrode exhibits excellent cycling performance with a high specific capacity of 1003 ​mA ​h ​g−1 ​at 1 ​C (1 ​C ​= ​4200 ​mA ​h ​g−1) after 300 cycles, and a high rate performance. The design strategy of using polar small molecule-grafted polymers to create claw-like structures could inspire the development of better binders for silicon-based anodes.

Synergistic interface engineering in n-p-n type heterojunction Co3O4/MIL/Mn-STO with dual S-scheme multi-charge migration to enhance visible-light photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics

Constructing an effective multi-heterojunction photocatalyst with maximum charge carrier separation remains challenging. Herein, a high-efficient Co3O4/MIL-88A/Mn–SrTiO3 (Co3O4/MIL/Mn-STO) n-p-n heterojunction photocatalyst was successfully prepared by a simple hydrothermal method for the photodegradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX). The combination of MIL and Co3O4/Mn-STO established an internal electric field and heterojunction, accelerating the separation of carriers, and thus improved photocatalytic performance. In the Co3O4/MIL/Mn-STO photocatalytic system, 95.5 % of SMX was degraded in 90 min. The photocatalytic kinetic removal rate of Co3O4/MIL/Mn-STO reached 0.0337 min−1, 8 times of Co3O4 (0.0041 min−1), 5.2 times of Mn-STO (0.0062 min−1), 4.6 times of MIL (0.0078 min−1), and 3.6 times of MIL/Mn-STO (0.0095 min−1). Remarkably, superoxide radicals (•O2−) and holes (h+) have been recognized as the main active species in the degradation process through reactive species elimination experiments and electron spin resonance (ESR) tests. The experimental and theoretical proved the in-built interfacial contact and synergistic effect between the photocatalyst accomplished with low bandgaps, high specific surface area, more reaction sites, high electron-hole pair separation, and maximum solar-light utilization. The molecular structure and possible degradation routes with intermediate products in the photocatalytic system were investigated using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (LC-MS) and DFT calculations. This work provided new insight into the guidelines of rational design/growth of new multicomponent photocatalysts to remove antibiotics and other emerging contaminants in wastewater.