S-scheme heterojunction/Schottky junction tandem synergistic effect promotes visible-light-driven catalytic activity

Designing photocatalysts with high light utilization and efficient photogenerated carrier separation for pollutant degradation is one of the important topics for sustainable development.In this study,hierarchical core–shell materialα-Fe_(2)O_(3)@ZnIn_(2)S_(4)with a step-scheme(S-scheme)heterojunction is synthesized by in situ growth technique,and MXene Ti_(3)C_(2)quantum dots(QDs)are introduced to construct a double-heterojunction tandem mechanism.The photodegradation efficiency ofα-Fe_(2)O_(3)@ZnIn_(2)S_(4)/Ti_(3)C_(2)QDs to bisphenol A is 96.1%and its reaction rate constant attained 0.02595 min^(−1),which is 12.3 times that of pureα-Fe_(2)O_(3).Meanwhile,a series of characterizations analyze the reasons for the enhanced photocatalytic activity,and the charge transport path of the S-scheme heterojunction/Schottky junction tandem is investigated.The construction of the S-scheme heterojunction enables the photo-generated electrons ofα-Fe_(2)O_(3)and the holes of ZnIn2S4 to transfer and combine under the action of the reverse built-in electric field.Due to the metallic conductivity of Ti_(3)C_(2)QDs,the photogenerated electrons of ZnIn_(2)S_(4)are further transferred to Ti_(3)C_(2)QDs to form a Schottky junction,which in turn forms a double-heterojunction tandem mechanism,showing a remarkable charge separation efficiency.This work provides a new opinion for the construction of tandem double heterojunctions to degrade harmful pollutants.

Hexagonal trumpet-like flowers growth induced by a colloidal crystal composite film

Hexagonal trumpet-like sodium hexafluorosilicate （SFS） flowers, grown on an ordered porous polystyrene film （OPPF）, were prepared via a synchronous dissolution/regrowth process. Their formation process can be divided into several steps： first, the dissolution of the silica spheres induced the crystallization of SFS onto the OPPF; second, some pores emerged on the closely packed bumps when being blown by the SiF4 gas; third, when the crystal was blown by continuous gas from the pores, the span of the top became larger than that of the bottom.