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Utilizing transparent and conductive SnO2 as electron mediator to enhance the photocatalytic performance of Z-scheme Si-SnO2-TiOx

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Abstract

Z-scheme photocatalysts, with strong redox ability, have a great potential for pollutants degradation. However, it is challenging to construct efficient Z-scheme photocatalysts because of their poor interfacial charge separation. Herein, by employing transparent and conductive SnO2 as electron mediator to pass light through and promote interfacial charge transportation, a novel Z-scheme photocatalyst Si-SnO2-TiOx (1 < x < 2) was constructed. The Z-scheme photocatalyst displayed an order of magnitude higher photocurrent density and a 4-fold increase in open-circuit potential compared to those of Si. Moreover, the onset potential shifted negatively for approximately 2.2 V. Benefiting from these advantages, this Z-scheme Si-SnO2-TiOx exhibited efficient photocatalytic performance toward phenol degradation and mineralization. 75% of the phenol was degraded without bias potential and 70% of the TOC was removed during phenol degradation. Other typical pollutants such as bisphenol A and atrazine could also be degraded without bias potential. Introducing a transparent and conductive electron mediator to construct Z-scheme photocatalyst gives a new sight to the improvement of photocatalytic performance in Z scheme.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 21590813), Liaoning Revitalization Talents Program (No. XLYC1801003) and Guangdong Innovation Team Project for Colleges and Universities (No. 2016KCXTD023).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China

    Jing Gu, Hongtao Yu, Xie Quan & Shuo Chen

  2. Research Center for Eco-Environmental Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan, 523808, China

    Junfeng Niu

Authors
  1. Jing Gu
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  2. Hongtao Yu
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  3. Xie Quan
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  4. Shuo Chen
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  5. Junfeng Niu
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Correspondence to Xie Quan.

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Highlights

• A novel Z-scheme Si-SnO2-TiOx with SnO2 as electron mediator is first constructed.

• Transparent and conductive SnO2 can pass light through and promote charge transport.

• VO from SnO2 and TiOx improve photoelectrochemical performances.

• Efficient photocatalytic degradations originate from the Z scheme construction.

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Gu, J., Yu, H., Quan, X. et al. Utilizing transparent and conductive SnO2 as electron mediator to enhance the photocatalytic performance of Z-scheme Si-SnO2-TiOx. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 14, 72 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-020-1251-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-020-1251-z

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