Transfer Of Photoinduced Electrons Research Articles

Dual S-scheme MoS2/ZnIn2S4/Graphene quantum dots ternary heterojunctions for highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

The layered chalcogenide ZnIn2S4 (ZIS) exhibits photo-stability and a tunable band gap but is limited in photocatalytic applications, such as hydrogen (H2) production, due to rapid carrier recombination and slow charge separation. To overcome these limitations, we have synthesized a ternary MoS2/ZIS/graphene quantum dots (GQDs) heterojunction, wherein MoS2 and GQDs are strategically attached to ZIS interlaced nanoflakes, enhancing light absorption across the 500–1500 nm range. This heterojunction benefits from dual S-scheme interfaces between MoS2-ZIS and ZIS-GQDs, establishing directed internal electric fields (IEFs). These IEFs accelerate the transfer of photoinduced electrons from the conduction bands of MoS2 and GQDs to the valence band of ZIS, promoting rapid recombination with holes and facilitating efficient catalytic reactions with plentiful photoinduced electrons stemmed from the conduction band of ZIS. As a result, the photocatalytic H2 production rate of the MoS2/ZIS/GQDs heterojunction is measured at 21.63 mmol h−1 g−1, marking an increase of 36.7 times over pure ZIS. This research provides valuable insights into designing novel heterojunctions for improved charge separation and transfer for solar energy conversion applications.

WO3/BiOBr S-Scheme Heterojunction Photocatalyst for Enhanced Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction.

The photocatalytic CO2 reduction strategy driven by visible light is a practical way to solve the energy crisis. However, limited by the fast recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes in photocatalysts, photocatalytic efficiency is still low. Herein, a WO3/BiOBr S-scheme heterojunction was formed by combining WO3 with BiOBr, which facilitated the transfer and separation of photoinduced electrons and holes and enhanced the photocatalytic CO2 reaction. The optimized WO3/BiOBr heterostructures exhibited best activity for photocatalytic CO2 reduction without any sacrificial reagents, and the CO yield reached 17.14 μmol g-1 after reaction for 4 h, which was 1.56 times greater than that of BiOBr. The photocatalytic stability of WO3/BiOBr was also improved.

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

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

G-C3N4/In2O3 heterojunction films and their excellent photocatalytic performance in fruit preservation and organic dye degradation

We prepared g-C3N4/In2O3 composite films on the wire mesh of stainless steel by a hydrothermal method combined with annealing. XRD, SEM, and XPS results confirmed the heterojunction formation of g-C3N4/In2O3. UV–vis spectroscopy showed that the heterojunction films exhibited enhanced visible light absorption capacity compared with the pristine In2O3 films. Compared with the individual In2O3 films, the PL intensity of the g-C3N4/In2O3 composite films was remarkably reduced, their photocurrent density was significantly increased, and the semicircle in EIS plots was reduced. All the above changes are attributed to the heterojunction formation between g-C3N4 and In2O3. According to our proposed mechanism, photogenerated electrons transfer from g-C3N4 to In2O3 while the holes move in the opposite direction. Therefore, the spatial transfer and separation of photoinduced electrons and holes was achieved. In other words, the recombination efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes was remarkably suppressed. In photocatalytic RhB degradation, g-C3N4/In2O3 heterojunction films exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity than the pristine In2O3 films. In our self-made photocatalytic fruit-preservation system, these g-C3N4/In2O3 heterojunction films showed excellent fruit preservation ability. Specifically, the bananas remained turquoise green without turning yellow or black spots, even black patches, after a seven-day evaluation period.

Carbon dots bridged Zn0.5Cd0.5S with interfacial amide bond facilitating electron transfer for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide production

Photocatalytic H2O2 production has gained significant attention as an environmentally friendly approach. The key is to explore efficient photocatalysts with sufficient active sites and excellent electron transfer capacity. Herein, we propose a novel approach by incorporating carbon dots (CDs) on ethylenediamine capped Zn0.5Cd0.5S, which was bridged with an interfacial amide bond. Smooth transfer of photoinduced electrons from Zn0.5Cd0.5S to carbon dots via a high-speed electron channel is afforded by interfacial amide bond. A remarkable H2O2 yield with a rate of 252 μmol/h and an apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 31 % at 400 nm is achieved. Photoelectrochemical analysis and density function theory (DFT) calculation reveal CDs with abundant oxygenous functional groups as active sites, boosting activity and selectivity. This interfacial engineering strategy with the acceleration of electrons transfer and enhanced 2e- selectivity can be applied to advanced photocatalytic systems for the achievement of valuable organics, environmental purification and new energy carriers.

Photoinduced Negative Differential Resistivity and Gunn Oscillations in SrTiO3.

SrTiO3 , a perovskite oxide, holds significant potential for application in the field of oxide electronics. Notably, its photoelectric activity in the low temperature regime, which overlaps with the quantum paraelectric state, exhibits remarkable characteristics. In this study, it is demonstrated that when photo-excited with above band gap energy photons, SrTiO3 exhibits non-linear transport of photocarriers and voltage-controlled negative resistance, resulting from an intervalley transfer of photo-induced electrons. As a consequence of the negative resistance, the photocurrent becomes unstable and spontaneously gives rise to low frequency Gunn-like oscillations.

Synergistic effect on photocatalytic CO2 reduction of facet-engineered Fe-soc-MOFs with photo-deposited PtO species

Photocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (PCO2RR) holds potential for mitigating global warming and achieving carbon neutrality. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising photocatalysts due to their tunable light absorption, CO2 adsorption and photoelectrical properties. This study reports synergistic effect of facet engineering and photo-deposited PtO species on Fe-soc-MOFs for enhanced PCO2RR performance. Three Fe-soc-MOFs, namely Fe-soc-O, Fe-soc-M and Fe-soc-C, were synthesized and evaluated the photocatalytic properties in a gas–solid phase system using H2O as sacrificial agent. Fe-soc-O exposing eight {111} facets exhibits the highest photocatalytic activity, achieving a CO selectivity of 63.4 %. After depositing PtO species, Fe-soc-O1.5 (1.5 represents 1.5 wt% Pt loading) demonstrates the most pronounced improvement in performance, with CO and CH4 yields of 285.6 and 18.1 µmol/g, surpassing Fe-soc-O by ratio of 11.8 and 1.2, respectively. Notably, Fe-soc-O1.5 shows an impressive CO selectivity of 94.0 %. The enhanced CO2-to-CO conversion was attributed to the efficient separation and transfer of photo-induced electrons, along with effective adsorption/desorption of intermediates on the photocatalyst surface. This work underscores the significance of integrating facet engineering and PtO deposition to optimize MOF-based photocatalysts for efficient CO2 reduction. The findings provide valuable insights for design of high-performance catalysts toward sustainable CO2 utilization.

Fabrication of g-C3N4@porphyrin nanorods hybrid material via CTAB surfactant-assisted self-assembly for photocatalytic degradation of Cr(VI) and methylene blue

Photocatalysts are an attractive solution for pollutant degradation under sunlight irradiation. One approach that has been proposed to enhance their activity is to combine two semiconductors, which can broaden the photon energy harvesting regions and improve charge separation. Herein, a facile approach to fabricating a g-C3N4@porphyrin nanorods hybrid material is presented using CTAB surfactant-assisted self-assembly of monomeric porphyrin molecules and g-C3N4 nanomaterials. Using different technical methods, the hybrid material was studied, and it was found that the porphyrin nanorods on the surface of g-C3N4 were all in the same place. The photocatalytic performance of the hybrid material was evaluated by investigating its behavior for the photo-oxidation and -degradation of Cr+6 ions and methylene blue organic dye under simulated sunlight irradiation. High photocatalytic performance towards these two pollutants was exhibited by the hybrid material with a removal percentage of nearly 100% after 100 min of reaction time under the simulated sunlight spectrum. Also, a possible photocatalytic mechanism of the C3N4@porphyrin nanorods photocatalyst was proposed. This mechanism involved the efficient separation and transfer of photo-induced electrons and holes on the surface of the hybrid material. This work offers a simple and efficient method for creating high-performance photocatalysts, and we have made progress in our understanding of their photocatalytic mechanisms. The findings have important implications for wastewater treatment and solar energy conversion. The use of this hybrid material may contribute to addressing environmental challenges and assist in building sustainable energy systems.

Effect of the halogen substitution on the interfacial properties of MAPbI3 (110)/Ti3C2T2 (001): First-principles calculations

To improve the optoelectronic properties and charge extraction efficiency of perovskite devices, precise device design and expert interface engineering are essential. In this study, we utilized first-principles simulations to investigate the structural, electrical, and optical characteristics of the interfaces between MAPbI3 and Ti3C2T2 (T = Cl, Br, I). Our computed charge density differences indicate that the internal electric field of MAPbI3/Ti3C2T2 promotes the transfer and separation of photoinduced electrons and holes. Furthermore, the heterostructures exhibit enhanced optical absorption, with higher absorption intensity observed in the visible band. Notably, the PbI2/Ti3C2Br2 interface shows the strongest cohesive energy, charge transfer, and optical absorption among the interfaces investigated. These findings provide detailed insights into the atomic-level interfacial properties of MAPbI3/Ti3C2T2 and offer valuable theoretical recommendations for the development of novel perovskite devices.

Greatly increased visible-light photocatalytic activity of SnS2/carbon nanotube composite for Cr(VI) reduction: Insights into effects of solid acid structure

A composite of SnS2 and carbon nanotube (CNT) was successfully synthesized as a visible-light-driven photocatalyst with a mechanochemical method. In comparing with SnS2, the SnS2/CNT composite improved much the photocatalytic removal of Cr(VI) in acidic condition, which was confirmed to its special solid acid structure. During the synthesis of the SnS2/CNT composite by ball milling, S-C p-π bonding was formed between sulfur atoms in SnS2 and carbon atoms in CNT. The generated S-C p-π bonding enhanced the transfer of photo-induced electrons in the bulk phase of the composite photocatalyst under visible light irradiation. Moreover, the persistent radical sites on CNT were able to trap photo-induced electrons and served as conjugated acid sites in the photocatalysis, which increased surface concentration of protons through their association with H+. These made the catalyst have a solid acid structure with plentiful surface protons, promoting the interfacial electron transfer between the catalysts and Cr(VI) and increasing the source of H+ for the reduction of Cr(VI). As a result, the photocatalytic reduction rate of Cr(VI) on the SnS2/CNT composite were dramatically enhanced, being about 800% that on SnS2. On the basis of various characterizations and probe experiments, we confirmed the significance of the solid acid structure of the photocatalyst and clarified the catalytic mechanism of the new photocatalyst. Our finding may provide a new strategy to prepare highly active photocatalysts for proton-involved reactions.

Photophysical and Photochemical Properties of Perylene–(Cyanine Dye) Dyad in the VIS–NIR Spectrum Region

The photophysical properties of an original covalently-bonded dyad based on a perylene derivative and IR-780 cyanine dye were studied. The dyad has pronounced absorption in the NIR region of the spectrum and a strong fluorescence signal, which is weakly quenched by the influence of the perylene derivative. Upon excitation of the dyad in the absorption region of perylene, a fluorescence signal from IR-780 is detected due to the Förster energy transfer mechanism. It is shown that the dyad does not generate singlet oxygen upon photoexcitation in the NIR region of the spectrum. However, it can generate superoxide anion radicals, indicating the presence of the photoinduced electrons transfer from the dye to the perylene.

Mesostructured ellipsoidal capsules barium stannate based perovskite photocatalysts anchored PtO nanoparticles for hydrogen evolution

Background: The separation and transportation of photocarriers are considered significant factors in photocatalytic H2 evolution. Method: Mesoporous BaSnO3, with superior electron mobility with a large surface area, was chosen to integrate PtO nanoparticles (NPs) to obtain a highly effective photocatalytic system. PtO NPs (5–10 nm) are uniformly hosted with high crystallinity on the mesoporous BaSnO3 networks by impregnation-calcination approach. Significant Findings: TEM images of BaSnO3 exhibited ellipsoidal capsules with lengths of 200 ± 10 nm and a diameter of 50 nm. The construction PtO/BaSnO3 heterojunction system with better electron transport ability was modulated to achieve better photocatalytic ability than BaSnO3. The H2 evolution over 1.2% PtO/BaSnO3 nanocomposite was about 21,550 μmol·g−1 after 9 h visible illumination, while bare BaSnO3 was produced only 3750 μmol·g−1. The optimal 1.2% PtO/BaSnO3 nanocomposite revealed the largest H2 evolution, and it was promoted 5.75 times larger than BaSnO3. The H2 evolution rate over-optimized 1.2% PtO/BaSnO3 photocatalyst was about 2380 μmolg−1h−1, 6 times larger than that of bare BaSnO3 (397.37 μmolg−1h−1). The obtained PtO/BaSnO3 nanocomposites could facilitate the photoinduced electrons transfer from BaSnO3 to PtO, indicating the efficient photoinduced carriers separation for the enhanced H2 evolution rate. The PtO/BaSnO3 nanocomposite displayed high photostability and recyclability even after 45 h of illumination. This work provides a novel approach for perovskites with mesoporous structures and tunable bandgap with low PtO content utilized in energy applications and photocatalytic reactions.

Hierarchical nanohybrid of CuS/NiS2/Ti3C2 heterostructure with boosting charge transfer for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Fabricating heterostructure photocatalysts with co-catalysts can improve the separation and transfer of photo-induced electrons and holes for photocatalysis reactions. Herein, Ti3C2Tx nanosheets are obtained by chemical etching via the hydrothermal route and serve as a template for growing photocatalysts. NiS2 nanoparticles and CuS nanoneedles are deposited sequentially on the surface of Ti3C2Tx nanosheets to form “Type II” CuS/NiS2/Ti3C2Tx hierarchical heterostructure via the solvothermal method. The enormous nanoneedles morphology provides enlarged active sites for the photocatalytic processes. The fabricated CuS/NiS2/Ti3C2Tx heterostructure delivers an increased hydrogen generation rate of 32.66 mmol g−1 h−1, which is higher than that of pure CuS (2.38 folds), NiS2 (1.93 folds), and NiS2/Ti3C2Tx (1.71 folds). CuS/NiS2/Ti3C2Tx heterostructure also performs a superior hydrogen evolution retention of 97.7% after 4 cycles (one cycle lasts 4 h), implying its decent structural stability and light corrosion resistance. The reasons are ascribed to the constructed “Type II” heterostructure of CuS/NiS2 with higher active sites, improved conductivity, and efficient separation of electrons and holes. DFT calculation and Mott-Schottky plots results elucidate the formation mechanism of CuS/NiS2/Ti3C2Tx “Type II” structure. CuS/NiS2/Ti3C2Tx heterostructure also obtains a reduced bandgap with increased light absorption. The van der Waals force between 2D materials enhances the transfer of photo-generated electrons. This work demonstrates that designing hierarchical co-catalyst heterostructure without non-noble can effectively promote water splitting in the solar-to-chemical system.

Enhanced photocatalytic properties of mesoporous heterostructured SrCO3-SrTiO3 microspheres via effective charge transfer

Photocatalytic reduction is currently one of the most promising methods for the removal of heavy metal hexavalent chromium ions from aqueous environments, for which increasing focus has been directed towards heterostructure engineering of the existing photocatalysts, like SrTiO3. In this work, mesoporous heterostructured SrCO3-SrTiO3 microspheres constructed from nanosheets were synthesized by a facile one-step solvothermal method using ethylene glycol (EG) and water as mixed solvents and exhibited enhanced photocatalytic performance in the degradation of 99.78% for the reduction of Cr(VI) under UV irradiation for 3 min compared with pure SrTiO3 microspheres, which is better than that of most photocatalysts in the previous works. The enhancement in the photocatalytic performance was probably attributed to the formed heterostructures between SrCO3 and SrTiO3 grains which can facilitate the transfer of photo-induced electrons from the conduction band (CB) of SrTiO3 to CB of SrCO3, and adsorbed EG molecules which can consume the holes in valence band (VB) of SrTO3, thus reducing the recombination of photo-induced carriers. In addition, the mesoporous structures with a large surface area can provide more active sites for the adsorption of Cr(VI) and thus accelerate subsequent reduction reaction of Cr(VI) with photo-induced electrons. Therefore, this work can provide a facile way to prepare high-performance photocatalysts for highly efficient and low-cost removal of Cr(VI).

Facile preparation of cyclized polyacrylonitrile modified FeWO4 with superior visible-light-driven photocatalysis

This paper reported the preparation of a novel high-performance visible-light-active photocatalyst (cyclized polyacrylonitrile (CPAN)/FeWO4 nanocomposite) from inexpensive and readily available polyacrylonitrile (PAN), FeSO4·7H2O, and Na2WO4·2H2O via a facile and practical approach. For the application to photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI), the as-prepared CPAN/FeWO4 nanocomposite demonstrated not only substantially higher photocatalytic activity than FeWO4 nanoparticles, but also fairly good durability under visible-light irradiation. Besides, the as-prepared CPAN/FeWO4 also demonstrated a high efficiency in the visible-light-driven photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) in dilute black chromium-plating solution. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared CPAN/FeWO4 photocatalyst was attributed to the formation of n-p heterojunction, which facilitated the separation and transfer of photo-induced holes and electrons. Furthermore, the photocatalytic experimental conditions also heavily influenced the Cr(VI) reduction rate over the as-prepared CPAN/FeWO4 photocatalyst. This study provided useful information on the exploitation of PAN to modify semiconductor photocatalysts to create new higher efficiency visible-light-active CPAN/semiconductor composite photocatalysts.

Papaya peel waste carbon dots/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite: From photocatalytic decomposition of methylene blue to antimicrobial activity

Carbon dots (CDs) have gained unprecedented attention as a novel luminescent zero-dimensional carbon nanomaterial owing to their diverse industrial applications. Herein, we reported the sustainable synthesis of fluorescent CDs from papaya peel waste, acting as a natural carbon originator. As-prepared CDs and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) were fabricated in the composites through a facile one-step hydrothermal method. Synthesized RGO/CDs (RC) nanocomposites were characterized using spectroscopic, diffraction, and electron-microscopic techniques. Nanocomposites with variable RGO to CD mass ratios were tested for photodegradation of textile dye methylene blue (MB). The highest photocatalytic activity (degradation efficiency of 87% in 135 min) was obtained in the nanocomposite containing a 2꞉1 mass ratio (RC2). The RGO sheets in the nanocomposite acted as media for electron acceptors, promoting the fast transfer and separation of photoinduced electrons during CDs excitation, thus preventing the recombination of the electron and holes. Based on the agar well diffusion assay, the nanocomposites exhibited excellent antibacterial activity than other tested materials against Bacillus subtilis (Gram-positive) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative) bacterium. The largest inhibition zone area (22 mm), i.e., the highest antimicrobial activity, was obtained in the nanocomposite tested against Gram-positive strains. Taken together, the synergistic effect of RGO and CDs enhanced the photocatalytic and antibacterial performance of synthesized nanocomposite material.

Direct Z-scheme heterojunction of PCN-222/CsPbBr3 for boosting photocatalytic CO2 reduction to HCOOH

Exploring photocatalysts with efficient charge separation to boost CO2 reduction to valuable chemicals is of great significance. Herein, we develop a PCN-222/CsPbBr3 hybrid with direct Z-scheme heterojunction for high-efficiency photoreduction of CO2 to HCOOH. By delicately controlling the interface of the PCN-222/CsPbBr3 hybrid, effective electron transfer from CsPbBr3 to PCN-222 is achieved, leading to the construction of an internal electric field (IEF). The photo-induced electrons transfer from PCN-222 to CsPbBr3 under visible light irradiation derived from IEF is confirmed by in-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transient absorption (TA), and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM), resulting in the impactful spatial separation of electron-hole pairs. The optimized PCN-222/CsPbBr3 catalyst with direct Z-scheme heterojunction finally offers a 7.0- and 2.1-times enhancement in CO2 photoreduction to HCOOH compared to pristine PCN-222 and CsPbBr3, respectively. This work provides a facile strategy for developing superior perovskite-based CO2RR photocatalysts with both high catalytic activity and selectivity of value-added products.

Recyclable and dual active catalyst of copper nanocluster-bound graphitic carbon nitride for the photo-induced synthesis of arylsulfones

A photocatalytic system of Cu(0) nanocluster-bound graphitic carbon nitride (Cu(0)-g-C3N4) was developed for three-component arylsulfonylation reactions. The Cu(0)-g-C3N4 nanocomposite has a structure in which 2–5 nm metallic Cu nanoclusters are anchored on the surface of g-C3N4 nanosheets. The Cu(0) clusters were synthesized by reducing Cu2+ ions with ascorbic acid in the presence of g-C3N4 nanosheets. Cu(0)-g-C3N4 was designed to exhibit dual catalytic activity involving the transfer of photo-induced electrons from g-C3N4 to Cu(0) for the reduction of arylhalides, while the holes in g-C3N4 oxidize the sulfur dioxide anion. The structure of the catalyst was confirmed by electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The well-defined, air-stable Cu(0)-g-C3N4 catalyst effectively promotes the sulfonylation of aryl iodides, thiourea dioxide, and electrophiles to afford the corresponding arylsulfonyl compounds in moderate to good yields. The reusability of the catalyst was also evaluated, and it could be reused up to ten times in arylsulfonylation without the loss of its activity.

Engineered charge transfer and reactive site over hierarchical Ti3C2T x MXene@In2S3-NiS toward enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution

Steering photogenerated electron flow to the effective reactive sites is ideal for photocatalytic H2 evolution. Herein, as a proof-of-concept, NiS is coupled with a typical Schottky heterojunction of Ti3C2T x MXene@In2S3 through the photodepotition method towards improving the photocatalytic H2 evolution performance. In addition to the Schottky effect-mediated electron transfer in Ti3C2T x MXene@In2S3 heterojunctions, p–n junctions form between In2S3 and NiS to extract photoinduced electrons, which is found to cooperate with the role of effective H2 evolution reactive sites. The synergistic dual functions of NiS cooperate with Ti3C2T x MXene promote multichannel electron transfer in Ti3C2T x MXene@In2S3-NiS hybrids to improve the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) efficiency by 41 times compared to the bare In2S3. These results enlighten the engineering of the spatial transfer of photoinduced electrons to the reactive sites toward boosting the efficiency of photocatalytic HER.

Construction of 2D on 2D CuFeO2/Co-LDH heterojunction for boosting photocatalytic selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol

Delafossite structure CuFeO 2 has attracted researchers’ interest because of its narrow band gap, high stability, low cost and easy availability. However, due to the low efficiency of internal photoinduced charge separation, there is still a gap between its performance and practical application. Herein, a 2D on 2D CuFeO 2 /Co-LDH heterojunction was prepared by in situ growth method with enhanced charge separation efficiency resulted from the interfacial built-in electric field. Electrochemical and spectroscopic characterization were carried out which illustrated the energy band structure of heterojunction indicating the photoinduced electrons transfer from Co-LDH to CuFeO 2 . By fine-tuning the amount of precursor, we found that CuFeO 2 /Co-LDH-3 heterojunction showed the highest photocurrent of 6.07 μA/cm −2 , which presented optimal performance of photocatalytic selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol with the average conversion and selectivity of 84.33%, and 98.48%, respectively. This work proposes a preparation method of novel 2D on 2D CuFeO 2 /Co-LDH heterojunction, which promotes the development of the heterojunction photocatalysts.’ • 2D on 2D CuFeO 2 /Co-LDH heterojunction was prepared by in situ growth method. • The interfacial built-in electric field improves the charge separation efficiency. • The optimal photocurrent of CuFeO 2 /Co-LDH heterojunction is as high as 6.07 μA/cm −2 . • The optimal BA oxidation performance is obtained with the conversion and selectivity of 84.33%, and 98.48%, respectively.