Directing Charge Transfer in a Chemical‐Bonded BaTiO₃@ReS₂ Schottky Heterojunction for Piezoelectric Enhanced Photocatalysis

Abstract

The piezo‐assisted photocatalysis system, which can utilize solar energy and mechanical energy simulteneously, is promising but still challenging in the environmental remediation field. In this work, a novel metal–semiconductor BaTiO3@ReS2 Schottky heterostructure is designed and it shows high‐efficiency on piezo‐assisted photocatalytic molecular oxygen activation. By combining experiment and calculation results, the distorted metal‐phase ReS2 nanosheets are found to be closely anchored on the surface of the BaTiO3 nanorods, through interfacial ReO covalent bonds. The Schottky heterostructure not only forms electron‐transfer channels but also exhibits enhanced oxygen activation capacity, which are helpful to produce more superoxide radicals. The polarization field induced by the piezoelectric BaTiO3 can lower the Schottky barrier and thus reduce the transfer resistance of photogenerated electrons directing to the ReS2. As a result of the synergy effect between the two components, the BaTiO3@ReS2 exhibits untrahigh activity for degradation of pollutants with an apparent rate constant of 0.133 min−1 for piezo‐assisted photocatalysis, which is 16.6 and 2.44 times as that of piezocatalysis and photocatalysis, respectively. This performance is higher than most reported BaTiO3‐based piezo‐assisted photocatalysis systems. This work paves the way for the design of high‐efficiency piezo‐assisted photocatalytic materials for environmental remediation through using green energies in nature.

Iodide ions as invisible chemical scissors tailoring carbon nitride for highly efficient photocatalytic H2O2 evolution

“…The separation and transmission properties of the photogenerated charge carriers are further investigated by photocurrent spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. 41–43 According to Fig. 6a, BCN/NaI 0.4 exhibits the lowest PL intensity, demonstrating that it can effectively inhibit the recombination of charge carriers.…”

The Mott–Schottky heterojunction MoC@NG@ZIS with enhanced kinetic response for promoting photocatalytic hydrogen production

“…19 Liu et al loaded metal-phase ReS 2 nanosheets on BaTiO 3 nanorods via Re–O covalent bonds to form a Mott–Schottky heterojunction, which provides plentiful channels for charge transfer and achieves ultra-efficient degradation of pollutants. 23 Similarly, higher photocatalytic performance was obtained for Ti 3 C 2 T x @ZIS, Ni/S vacancy-rich Mn 0.3 Cd 0.7 S and NiS/MoS 2 based on the Mott–Schottky junction effect. 17,18,24 Among various electrocatalysts, Pt is considered to be the ideal candidate for the construction of Mott–Schottky heterojunctions, due to its large work function and excellent electronic structure.…”

Surface decorated Ni sites for superior photocatalytic hydrogen production

“…The electronic structure of isolated reactive centers as cocatalysts and their interaction with light absorbers are important factors in the comprehension of the photocatalytic mechanism. [24][25][26][27] Single-atom catalysts, with nearly identical catalytically reactive centers, have emerged as excellent candidates for photocatalysts, affording us the great chance to detect their structural evolution during the catalytic process. 6 Moreover, the decoration of isolated active centers over semiconductors may also induce the generation of discrete energy bands, which is very effective in trapping charge carriers and boosting the transfer of photogenerated electrons and holes.…”

“…Furthermore, homogeneously dispersed isolated reactive centers offer us an ideal model to explore the precise structure–performance correlation at the atomic level. The electronic structure of isolated reactive centers as cocatalysts and their interaction with light absorbers are important factors in the comprehension of the photocatalytic mechanism 24–27 . Single‐atom catalysts, with nearly identical catalytically reactive centers, have emerged as excellent candidates for photocatalysts, affording us the great chance to detect their structural evolution during the catalytic process 6 .…”