All-inorganic TiO₂/Cs₂AgBiBr₆ composite as highly efficient photocatalyst under visible light irradiation

Abstract

In recent years, limited photocatalysis efficiency and wide band gap have hindered the application of TiO₂ in the field of photocatalysis. A leading star in photocatalysis has been revealed as lead-free Cs₂AgBiBr₆ double halide perovskite nanocrystals, owing to its strong visible light absorption and tunable band gap. In this work, this photocatalytic process was facilitated by a unique TiO₂/Cs₂AgBiBr₆ composite, which was identified as an S-cheme heterojunction. TiO₂/Cs₂AgBiBr₆ composite was investigated for its structure and photocatalytic behavior. The results showed that when the perovskite dosage is 40%, the photocatalytic rate of TiO₂ could be boosted to 0.1369 min^–1. This paper discusses and proposes the band gap matching, carrier separation, and photocatalytic mechanism of TiO₂/Cs₂AgBiBr₆ composites, which will facilitate the generation of new ideas for improving TiO₂’s photocatalytic performance.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Cs₂AgBiBr₆ nanocrystals / visible-light photocatalyst / Cs₂AgBiBr₆/TiO₂ heterojunction

References

[1] Reverberi A P, Varbanov P, Vocciante M, Fabiano B. Bismuth oxide-related photocatalysts in green nanotechnology: a critical analysis. Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering, 2018, 12(4): 878–892

[2] Yan H, Yang H. TiO₂-g-C₃N₄ composite materials for photocatalytic H₂ evolution under visible light irradiation. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2011, 509(4): 26–29

[3] Yang J, Liu X, Cao H, Shi Y, Xie Y, Xiao J. Dendritic BiVO₄ decorated with MnO_x co-catalyst as an efficient hierarchical catalyst for photocatalytic ozonation. Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering, 2019, 13(1): 185–191

[4] Fujishima A, Honda K. Electrochemical photolysis of water at a semiconductor electrode. Nature, 1972, 238(5358): 37–38

[5] Lu J, Lan L, Liu X T, Wang N, Fan X. Plasmonic Au nanoparticles supported on both sides of TiO₂ hollow spheres for maximising photocatalytic activity under visible light. Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering, 2019, 13(4): 665–671

[6] Chen C, Xin X, Zhang J, Li G, Zhang Y, Lu H, Gao J, Yang Z, Wang C, He Z. Few-layered MoS₂ nanoparticles loaded TiO₂ nanosheets with exposed {001} facets for enhanced photocatalytic activity. Nano, 2018, 13(11): 1850129

[7] Tellam J, Zong X, Wang L. Low temperature synthesis of visible light responsive rutile TiO₂ nanorods from TiC precursor. Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering, 2012, 6(1): 53–57

[8] Wang T, Yue D, Li X, Zhao Y. Lead-free double perovskite Cs₂AgBiBr₆/RGO composite for efficient visible light photocatalytic H₂ evolution. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2020, 268: 118399

[9] Feng H J, Deng W, Yang K, Huang J, Zeng X C. Double perovskite Cs₂BBiX₆ (B = Ag, Cu; X = Br, Cl)/TiO₂ heterojunction: an efficient Pb-free perovskite interface for charge extraction. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2017, 121(8): 4471–4480

[10] Fan Q, Biesold-McGee G V, Ma J, Xu Q, Pan S, Peng J, Lin Z. Lead-free halide perovskite nanocrystals: crystal structures, synthesis, stabilities, and optical properties. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2020, 59(3): 1030–1046

[11] Lyu B, Guo X, Gao D, Kou M, Yu Y, Ma J, Chen S, Wang H, Zhang Y, Bao X. Highly-stable tin-based perovskite nanocrystals produced by passivation and coating of gelatin. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2021, 403: 123967

[12] Fan Q, Wei S, Ma J, Zhang W, Wen L. Water-driven boost in the visible light photocatalytic performance of Cs₂ AgBiBr₆ double perovskite nanocrystals. Journal of Materials Chemistry. A, Materials for Energy and Sustainability, 2022, 10(28): 14923–14932

[13] Chen J, Ma J, Fan Q, Zhang W. An eco-friendly metal-less tanning process: Zr-based metal organic frameworks as novel chrome-free tanning agent. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2023, 382: 135263

[14] He Z, Tang Q, Liu X, Yan X, Li K, Yue D. Lead-free Cs₂AgBiBr₆ perovskite with enriched surface defects for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Energy & Fuels, 2021, 35(18): 15005–15009

[15] Yang B, Chen J, Yang S, Hong F, Sun L, Han P, Pullerits T, Deng W, Han K. Lead-free silver-bismuth halide double perovskite nanocrystals. Angewandte Chemie, 2018, 130(19): 5457–5461

[16] Nguyen V Q, Mady A H, Mahadadalkar M A, Baynosa M L, Kumar D R, Rabie A M, Lee J, Kim W K, Shim J J. Highly active Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst of anatase TiO₂ octahedra covered with C-MoS₂ nanosheets for efficient degradation of organic pollutants under solar light. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2022, 606: 337–352

[17] García-Contreras L A, Flores-Flores J O, Arenas-Alatorre J Á, Chávez-Carvayar J Á. Synthesis, characterization and study of the structural change of nanobelts of TiO₂ (H₂Ti₃O₇) to nanobelts with anatase, brookite and rutile phases. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2022, 923: 166236

[18] Torane A, Ubale A, Kanade K, Pagare P. Photocatalytic dye degradation study of TiO₂ material. Materials Today: Proceedings, 2021, 43: 2738–2741

[19] Bai S, Liu H, Sun J, Tian Y, Chen S, Song J, Luo R, Li D, Chen A, Liu C C. Improvement of TiO₂ photocatalytic properties under visible light by WO₃/TiO₂ and MoO₃/TiO₂ composites. Applied Surface Science, 2015, 338: 61–68

[20] Ni L, Wang T, Wang H, Wang Y. An anaerobic-applicable Bi₂MoO₆/CuS heterojunction modified photocatalytic membrane for biofouling control in anammox MBRs: generation and contribution of reactive species. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2022, 429: 132457

[21] Huang Y, Kang S, Yang Y, Qin H, Ni Z, Yang S, Li X. Facile synthesis of Bi/Bi₂WO₆ nanocomposite with enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2016, 196: 89–99

[22] Zhang Y, Fu F, Zhou F, Yang X, Zhang D, Chen Y. Synergistic effect of RGO/TiO₂ nanosheets with exposed (001) facets for boosting visible light photocatalytic activity. Applied Surface Science, 2020, 510: 145451

[23] Ma Q, Hu X, Liu N, Sharma A, Zhang C, Kawazoe N, Chen G, Yang Y. Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified Ag/Ag₂O/Ag₃PO₄/Bi₂WO₆ photocatalyst film with enhanced efficiency and stability under solar light. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2020, 569: 101–113

[24] Zhang S, Tang F, Liu J, Che W, Su H, Liu W, Huang Y, Jiang Y, Yao T, Liu Q, Wei S. MoS₂-coated ZnO nanocomposite as an active heterostructure photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution. Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 2017, 137: 104–107

[25] Chen B, Lu W, Xu P, Yao K. Potassium poly(heptazine imide) coupled with Ti₃C₂ MXene-derived TiO₂ as a composite photocatalyst for efficient pollutant degradation. ACS Omega, 2023, 8(12): 11397–11405

[26] Barzegar M H, Sabzehmeidani M M, Ghaedi M, Avargani V M, Moradi Z, Roy V A, Heidari H. S-scheme heterojunction g-C₃N₄/TiO₂ with enhanced photocatalytic activity for degradation of a binary mixture of cationic dyes using solar parabolic trough reactor. Chemical Engineering Research & Design, 2021, 174: 307–318

[27] Ruan X, Cui X, Cui Y, Fan X, Li Z, Xie T, Ba K, Jia G, Zhang H, Zhang L, Zhang W, Zhao X, Leng J, Jin S, Singh D J, Zheng W. Favorable energy band alignment of TiO₂ anatase/rutile heterophase homojunctions yields photocatalytic hydrogen evolution with quantum efficiency exceeding 45.6%. Advanced Energy Materials, 2022, 12(16): 2200298

[28] Hasan J, Li H, Tian G, Qin C. Fabrication of Cr₂S₃-GO-TiO₂ composite with high visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity on degradation of organic dyes. Chemical Physics, 2020, 539: 110950

[29] Wang Y, Lu N, Luo M, Fan L, Zhao K, Qu J, Guan J, Yuan X. Enhancement mechanism of fiddlehead-shaped TiO₂-BiVO₄ type II heterojunction in SPEC towards RhB degradation and detoxification. Applied Surface Science, 2019, 463: 234–243

[30] Xu D, Ma H. Degradation of rhodamine B in water by ultrasound-assisted TiO₂ photocatalysis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2021, 313: 127758

[31] Cao X, Zhang L, Guo C, Chen T, Feng C, Liu Z, Qi Y, Wang W, Wang J. Ni-doped CdS porous cubes prepared from prussian blue nanoarchitectonics with enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2022, 47(6): 3752–3761

[32] Zhao W, Zhang J, Zhu F, Mu F, Zhang L, Dai B, Xu J, Zhu A, Sun C, Leung D Y. Study the photocatalytic mechanism of the novel Ag/p-Ag₂O/n-BiVO₄ plasmonic photocatalyst for the simultaneous removal of BPA and chromium(VI). Chemical Engineering Journal, 2019, 361: 1352–1362

[33] Hou J, Yang Y, Zhou J, Wang Y, Xu T, Wang Q. Flexible CdS and PbS nanoparticles sensitized TiO₂ nanotube arrays lead to significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance. Ceramics International, 2020, 46(18): 28785–28791

[34] Mitchell E, Law A, Godin R. Experimental determination of charge carrier dynamics in carbon nitride heterojunctions. Chemical Communications (Cambridge), 2021, 57(13): 1550–1567

[35] Chu S, Hu Y, Zhang J, Cui Z, Shi J, Wang Y, Zou Z. Constructing direct Z-scheme CuO/PI heterojunction for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water under solar driven. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2021, 46(13): 9064–9076

[36] Karamian E, Sharifnia S. Hydrogen evolution using CdWO₄ modified by BiFeO₃ in the presence of potassium iodide: a combination of photocatalytic and non-photocatalytic water splitting. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2019, 44(47): 25717–25729

[37] Zong X, Yan H, Wu G, Ma G, Wen F, Wang L, Li C. Enhancement of photocatalytic H₂ evolution on CdS by loading MoS₂ as cocatalyst under visible light irradiation. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2008, 130(23): 7176–7177

[38] Jang J S, Kim H G, Lee J S. Heterojunction semiconductors: a strategy to develop efficient photocatalytic materials for visible light water splitting. Catalysis Today, 2012, 185(1): 270–277

[39] Chun W J, Ishikawa A, Fujisawa H, Takata T, Kondo J N, Hara M, Kawai M, Matsumoto Y, Domen K. Conduction and valence band positions of Ta₂O₅, TaON, and Ta₃N₅ by UPS and electrochemical methods. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2003, 107(8): 1798–1803

[40] Guo F, Shi W, Wang H, Han M, Li H, Huang H, Liu Y, Kang Z. Facile fabrication of a CoO/gC₃N₄ p-n heterojunction with enhanced photocatalytic activity and stability for tetracycline degradation under visible light. Catalysis Science & Technology, 2017, 7(15): 3325–3331

[41] Pinaud B A, Chen Z, Abram D N, Jaramillo T F. Thin films of sodium birnessite-type MnO₂: optical properties, electronic band structure, and solar photoelectrochemistry. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2011, 115(23): 11830–11838

[42] Yang J, Chen D, Zhu Y, Zhang Y, Zhu Y. 3D–3D porous Bi₂WO₆/graphene hydrogel composite with excellent synergistic effect of adsorption-enrichment and photocatalytic degradation. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2017, 205: 228–237

[43] Dehghan S, Jafari A J, FarzadKia M, Esrafili A, Kalantary R R. Visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of metalaxyl by reduced graphene oxide/Fe₃O₄/ZnO ternary nanohybrid: influential factors, mechanism and toxicity bioassay. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A Chemistry, 2019, 375: 280–292

[44] Luo J, Ning X, Zhan L, Zhou X. Facile construction of a fascinating Z-scheme AgI/Zn₃V₂O₈ photocatalyst for the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under visible light irradiation. Separation and Purification Technology, 2021, 255: 117691

[45] Xu Q, Zhang L, Cheng B, Fan J, Yu J. S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst. Chem, 2020, 6(7): 1543–1559

[46] Mahmoud Idris A, Zheng S, Wu L, Zhou S, Lin H, Chen Z, Xu L, Wang J, Li Z. A heterostructure of halide and oxide double perovskites Cs₂AgBiBr₆/Sr₂FeNbO₆ for boosting the charge separation toward high efficient photocatalytic CO₂ reduction under visible-light irradiation. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2022, 446: 137197

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press