Photocatalytic CO2 reduction into solar fuels over photocatalysts has theoretically and practically become a hot research topic. Herein, we fabricated a novel hybrid TiO2 nanofiber coated by CuInS2 nanoplates through a hydrothermal method. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopes, UV–vis absorption spectra, nitrogen sorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrochemical impudence spectroscopy. The resulting TiO2/CuInS2 hybrid nanofibers exhibit superior photocatalytic activity for CO2 reduction under irradiation, due to the generation of direct Z-scheme heterojunction between TiO2 and CuInS2. This work may provide an alternate methodology to design and fabricate multicomponent TiO2-based photocatalyst for high-efficiency CO2 photoreduction.

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CuInS2 sensitized TiO2 hybrid nanofibers for improved photocatalytic CO2 reduction

Highly-efficient and eco-friendly materials and technologies are urgently needed to meet the requirements of nowadays green development. Photocatalysis with using solar energy and enzymatic catalysis with eco-friendly nature are effective alternatives to address the problem. Notably, beneficial use of the synergistic effect of artificial enzyme and advanced photocatalyst has attracted wide attention. This work presents a biomimetic photocatalytic material, two-dimensional (2D) biomimetic hemin-bismuth tungstate (HBWO). Stable HBWO composites formed by immobilization of monomeric hemin on 2D bismuth tungstate layer, exhibit high photocatalytic performance, better than that of pure 2D bismuth tungstate and unsupported hemin. HBWO shows layered structure with the interlayer spacing at ˜0.35 nm. In the photocatalytic process, hemin can not only act as an electron shuttle, also play an important role in oxygen transfer. Additionally, the synthesized HBWO composites exhibit nice binding affinities and high photocatalytic activity in tetracycline degradation. It is anticipated that beneficial use of synergistic effect of artificial enzyme and photocatalyst via HBWO composites can be a promising eco-friendly and efficient solution for addressing the environmental crisis.

Synergistic effect of artificial enzyme and 2D nano-structured Bi2WO6 for eco-friendly and efficient biomimetic photocatalysis

The use of solar energy to catalyze the photo-driven processes has attracted tremendous attention from the scientific community because of its great potential to address energy and environmental is...

Perovskite Oxide Based Materials for Energy and Environment-Oriented Photocatalysis

Facile construction of novel Bi2WO6/Ta3N5 Z-scheme heterojunction nanofibers for efficient degradation of harmful pharmaceutical pollutants

Ag decorated WO3/Bi2WO6 hybrid heterojunction with a direct Z-scheme band structure has been synthesized by a novel method for efficient removal of gaseous chlorinated-volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under simulated sunlight irradiation. Bismuth atoms were inserted into the [WO6] layers of tungstate acid to form [Bi2O2] layers toward the formation of a Bi2WO6 crystal phase, which results in Z-scheme WO3/Bi2WO6 heterojunction. Ag nanoparticles (NPs) were further introduced and uniformly anchored on the surface of the WO3/Bi2WO6 for improving visible-light absorption and adjusting behavior of photoinduced charge carriers in the heterostructure through surface plasmon resonance (SPR). In comparison with pristine Bi2WO6 and WO3/Bi2WO6, Ag/WO3/Bi2WO6 exhibits a better photocatalytic activity for removal of gaseous chlorobenzene under simulated sunlight irradiation. The conversion efficiency of 2% Ag/WO3/Bi2WO6 heterojunction is 2.5 and 1.9 times higher than those of the pristine Bi2WO6 and WO3/Bi2WO6 samples, respectively. The improved photocatalytic activity is mainly attributed to the formation of three-component heterojunction with the Z-scheme structure and SPR effect of Ag NPs, which could not only increase absorption of visible light, but also promote the separation efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes in the hybrids.

Z-scheme plasmonic Ag decorated WO3/Bi2WO6 hybrids for enhanced photocatalytic abatement of chlorinated-VOCs under solar light irradiation

Novel CuInS2 quantum dots (CIS-QDs)/Bi2WO6 3D composites were successfully synthesized through a facile deposition process, followed by low temperature calcination. The ternary p-type CIS-QDs were highly dispersed onto the surface of flower-like n-type Bi2WO6 nanosheets to form p-n heterojunction and simultaneously tune the behaviors of photogenerated charge carriers, resulting in higher photocatalytic efficiencies of toluene degradation and Cr(VI) reduction under visible light irradiation, which are 3.0 and 8.5 times higher than those of Bi2WO6, respectively. The photoelectrochemical investigations indicate that the introduction of CIS-QDs synergistically enhanced the harvesting efficiency of solar energy in the p-n heterojunction system with the internal electric field and reduced transfer barrier of photoinduced charge carriers by forming the unique Bi S bonds between the CIS-QDs and flower-like Bi2WO6.

Mengqian Yuan

Papers

CuInS 2 quantum dots embedded in Bi 2 WO 6 nanoflowers for enhanced visible light photocatalytic removal of contaminants