Abstract
The BiFeO3/g-C3N4 heterostructure, which is fabricated via a simple mixing-calcining method, benefits the significant enhancement of the pyrocatalytic performance. With the growth of g-C3N4 content in the heterostructure pyrocatalysts from 0 to 25%, the decomposition ratio of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye after 18 cold-hot temperature fluctuation (25–65 °C) cycles increases at first and then decreases, reaching a maximum value of ∼94.2% at 10% while that of the pure BiFeO3 is ∼67.7%. The enhanced dye decomposition may be due to the generation of the internal electric field which strengthens the separation of the positive and negative carriers and further accelerates their migrations. The intermediate products in the pyrocatalytic reaction also have been detected and confirmed, which proves the key role of the pyroelectric effect in realizing the dye decomposition using BiFeO3/g-C3N4 heterostructure catalyst. The pyroelectric BiFeO3/g-C3N4 heterostructure shows the potential application in pyrocatalytically degrading dye wastewater.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Lin H, Wu Z, Jia YM, et al. Piezoelectrically induced mechano-catalytic effect for degradation of dye wastewater through vibrating Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 fibers. Appl Phys Lett 2014, 104: 162907.
Sadeghzadeh-Attar A. Photocatalytic degradation evaluation of N-Fe codoped aligned TiO2 nanorods based on the effect of annealing temperature. J Adv Ceram 2020, 9: 107–122.
Nakata K, Fujishima A. TiO2 photocatalysis: Design and applications. J Photochem Photobiol C: Photochem Rev 2012, 13: 169–189.
Li Q, Zhao TT, Li M, et al. One-step construction of pickering emulsion via commercial TiO2 nanoparticles for photocatalytic dye degradation. Appl Catal B: Environ 2019, 249: 1–8.
Xue X, Zang W, Deng P, et al. Piezo-potential enhanced photocatalytic degradation of organic dye using ZnO nanowires. Nano Energy 2015, 13: 414–422.
Wu Z, Luo WS, Zhang HF, et al. Strong pyro-catalysis of shape-controllable bismuth oxychloride nanomaterial for wastewater remediation. Appl Surf Sci 2020, 513: 145630.
Ma JP, Chen L, Wu Z, et al. Pyroelectric Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 polarized ceramic with strong pyro-driven catalysis for dye wastewater decomposition. Ceram Int 2019, 45: 11934–11938.
Wu J, Mao WJ, Wu Z, et al. Strong pyro-catalysis of pyroelectric BiFeO3 nanoparticles under a room-temperature cold-hot alternation. Nanoscale 2016, 8: 7343–7350.
Xu XL, Chen SJ, Wu Z, et al. Strong pyro-electro-chemical coupling of Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3@Ag pyroelectric nanoparticles for room-temperature pyrocatalysis. Nano Energy 2018, 50: 581–588.
You H, Ma X, Wu Z, et al. Piezoelectrically/pyroelectrically-driven vibration/cold-hot energy harvesting for mechano-/pyro- bi-catalytic dye decomposition of NaNbO3 nanofibers. Nano Energy 2018, 52: 351–359.
Tian N, Huang HW, Wang SB, et al. Facet-charge-induced coupling dependent interfacial photocharge separation: A case of BiOI/g-C3N4 p-n junction. Appl Catal B: Environ 2020, 267: 118697.
Zhang ZJ, Wang WZ, Wang L, et al. Enhancement of visible-light photocatalysis by coupling with narrowband-gap semiconductor: A case study on Bi2S3/Bi2WO6. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2012, 4: 593–597.
Yue Y, Zhang P, Wang W, et al. Enhanced dark adsorption and visible-light-driven photocatalytic properties of narrower-band-gap Cu2S decorated Cu2O nanocomposites for efficient removal of organic pollutants. J Hazard Mater 2020, 384: 121302.
You HL, Wu Z, Jia YM, et al. High-efficiency and mechano-/photo- bi-catalysis of piezoelectric-ZnO@photoelectric-TiO2 core-shell nanofibers for dye decomposition. Chemosphere 2017, 183: 528–535.
Marschall R. Semiconductor composites: Strategies for enhancing charge carrier separation to improve photocatalytic activity. Adv Funct Mater 2014, 24: 2421–2440.
Yu J, Nong Q, Jiang X, et al. Novel Fe2(MoO4)3/g-C3N4 heterojunction for efficient contaminant removal and hydrogen production under visible light irradiation. Sol Energy 2016, 139: 355–364.
He YM, Wang Y, Zhang LH, et al. High-efficiency conversion of CO2 to fuel over ZnO/g-C3N4 photocatalyst. Appl Catal B: Environ 2015, 168–169: 1–8.
Ong WJ, Tan LL, Ng YH, et al. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)-based photocatalysts for artificial photosynthesis and environmental remediation: Are we a step closer to achieving sustainability? Chem Rev 2016, 116: 7159–7329.
Zhu JJ, Xiao P, Li HL, et al. Graphitic carbon nitride: Synthesis, properties, and applications in catalysis. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2014, 6: 16449–16465.
Dong XP, Cheng FX. Recent development in exfoliated two-dimensional g-C3N4 nanosheets for photocatalytic applications. J Mater Chem A 2015, 3: 23642–23652.
Li TT, Zhao LH, He YM, et al. Synthesis of g-C3N4/SmVO4 composite photocatalyst with improved visible light photocatalytic activities in RhB degradation. Appl Catal B: Environ 2013, 129: 255–263.
Yang ZC, Li J, Cheng FX, et al. BiOBr/protonated graphitic C3N4 heterojunctions: Lntimate interfaces by electrostatic interaction and enhanced photocatalytic activity. J Alloys Compd 2015, 634: 215–222.
Fu J, Chang B, Tian Y, et al. Novel C3N4-CdS composite photocatalysts with organic-inorganic heterojunctions: Ln situ synthesis, exceptional activity, high stability and photocatalytic mechanism. J Mater Chem A 2013, 1: 3083–3090.
Xia YT, Jia YM, Qian WQ, et al. Pyroelectrically induced pyro-electro-chemical catalytic activity of BaTiO3 nanofibers under room-temperature cold-hot cycle excitations. Metals 2017, 7: 122.
Qian W, Wu Z, Jia Y, et al. Thermo-electrochemical coupling for room temperature thermocatalysis in pyroelectric ZnO nanorods. Electrochem Commun 2017, 81: 124–127.
You HL, Wu Z, Wang L, et al. Highly efficient pyrocatalysis of pyroelectric NaNbO3 shape-controllable nanoparticles for room-temperature dye decomposition. Chemosphere 2018, 199: 531–537.
You HL, Jia YM, Wu Z, et al. Room-temperature pyro-catalytic hydrogen generation of 2D few-layer black phosphorene under cold-hot alternation. Nat Commun 2018, 9: 2889.
Xu XL, Xiao LB, Jia YM, et al. Pyro-catalytic hydrogen evolution by Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3 nanoparticles: Harvesting cold-hot alternation energy near room-temperature. Energy Environ Sci 2018, 11: 2198–2207.
Ma JP, Wu Z, Luo WS, et al. High pyrocatalytic properties of pyroelectric BaTiO3 nanofibers loaded by noble metal under room-temperature thermal cycling. Ceram Int 2018, 44: 21835–21841.
Wang L, Haugen NO, Wu Z, et al. Ferroelectric BaTiO3@ZnO heterostructure nanofibers with enhanced pyroelectrically-driven-catalysis. Ceram Int 2019, 45: 90–95.
Chen L, Li HM, Wu Z, et al. Enhancement of pyroelectric catalysis of ferroelectric BaTiO3 crystal: The action mechanism of electric poling. Ceram Int 2020, 46: 16763–16769.
You H, Jia Y, Wu Z, et al. Strong piezo-electrochemical effect of multiferroic BiFeO3 square micro-sheets for mechanocatalysis. Electrochem Commun 2017, 79: 55–58.
Wang XF, Mao WW, Zhang J, et al. Facile fabrication of highly efficient g-C3N4/BiFeO3 nanocomposites with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activities. J Colloid Interface Sci 2015, 448: 17–23.
Xu XL, Xiao LB, Jia YM, et al. Pyro-catalytic hydrogen evolution by Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3 nanoparticles: Harvesting cold-hot alternation energy near room-temperature. Energy Environ Sci 2018, 11: 2198–2207.
Hu X, Wang W, Xie G, et al. Ternary assembly of g-C3N4/graphene oxide sheets/BiFeO3 heterojunction with enhanced photoreduction of Cr(VL) under visible-light irradiation. Chemosphere 2019, 216: 733–741.
Luo W, Zhu L, Wang N, et al. Efficient removal of organic pollutants with magnetic nanoscaled BiFeO3 as a reusable heterogeneous fenton-like catalyst. Environ Sci Technol 2010, 44: 1786–1791.
Zhang YC, Zhang Q, Shi QW, et al. Acid-treated g-C3N4 with improved photocatalytic performance in the reduction of aqueous Cr(VL) under visible-light. Sep Purif Technol 2015, 142: 251–257.
Kang HW, Lim SN, Song DS, et al. Organic-inorganic composite of g-C3N4-SrTiO3: Rh photocatalyst for improved H2 evolution under visible light irradiation. Int J Hydrog Energy 2012, 37: 11602–11610.
Su YG, Zhao YX, Zhao YJ, et al. Novel ternary component Ag-SrTa2O6/g-C3N4 photocatalyst: Synthesis, optical properties and visible light photocatalytic activity. Appl Surf Sci 2015, 358: 213–222.
Feng Z, Zeng L, Chen YJ, et al. In situ preparation of Z-scheme MoO3/g-C3N4 composite with high performance in photocatalytic CO2 reduction and RhB degradation. J Mater Res 2017, 32: 3660–3668.
You HL, Wu Z, Zhang LH, et al. Harvesting the vibration energy of BiFeO3 nanosheets for hydrogen evolution. Angew Chem Int Edit 2019, 58: 11779–11784.
Gao HJ, Zhao XX, Zhang HM, et al. Construction of 2D/0D/2D face-to-face contact g-C3N4@Au@Bi4Ti3O12 heterojunction photocatalysts for degradation of rhodamine B. J Electron Mater 2020, 49: 5248–5259.
Yan YX, Yang H, Yi Z, et al. Construction of Ag2S@CaTiO3 heterostructure photocatalysts for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of dyes. Desalin Water Treat 2019, 170: 349–360.
Wang YP, Yang H, Sun XF, et al. Preparation and photocatalytic application of ternary n-BaTiO3/Ag/p-AgBr heterostructured photocatalysts for dye degradation. Mater Res Bull 2020, 124: 110754.
Di LJ, Yang H, Xian T, et al. Facile synthesis and enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity of novel p-Ag3PO4/n-BiFeO3 heterostructure composites for dye degradation. Nanoscale Res Lett 2018, 13: 257.
Yan YX, Yang H, Yi Z, et al. Design of ternary CaTiO3/g-C3N4/AgBr Z-scheme heterostructured photocatalysts and their application for dye photodegradation. Solid State Sci 2020, 100: 106102.
Bai Y, Zhao JZ, Lv Z, et al. Enhanced piezocatalytic performance of ZnO nanosheet microspheres by enriching the surface oxygen vacancies. J Mater Sci 2020, 55: 14112–14124.
Morozovska AN, Eliseev EA, Svechnikov GS, et al. Pyroelectric response of ferroelectric nanowires: Size effect and electric energy harvesting. J Appl Phys 2010, 108: 042009.
Liu H, Cao WR, Su Y, et al. Synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic performance of novel visible-light-induced Ag/BiOI. Appl Catal B: Environ 2012, 111–112: 271–279.
Pagano R, Ingrosso C, Giancane G, et al. Wet synthesis of elongated hexagonal ZnO microstructures for applications as photo-piezoelectric catalysts. Materials 2020, 13: 2938.
Liu XF, Xiao LY, Zhang Y, et al. Significantly enhanced piezo-photocatalytic capability in BaTiO3 nanowires for degrading organic dye. J Materiomics 2020, 6: 256–262.
Sun HJ, Liu Y, Zhang Y, et al. Synthesis of Bi2Fe4O9/reduced graphene oxide composite by one-step hydrothermal method and its high photocatalytic performance. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 2014, 25: 4212–4218.
Liu PD, Sun HJ, Liu XF, et al. Enhanced photocatalytic performance of Bi2Fe4O9/graphene via modifying graphene composite. J Am Ceram Soc 2017, 100: 3540–3549.
Zhang Y, Sun HJ, Chen W. Li-modified Ba0.99Ca0.01Zr0.02Ti0.98O3 lead-free ceramics with highly improved piezoelectricity. J Alloys Compd 2017, 694: 745–751.
Zhang Y, Sun HJ, Chen W. A brief review of Ba(Ti0.8Zr0.2)O3-(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 based lead-free piezoelectric ceramics: Past, present and future perspectives. J Phys Chem Solids 2018, 114: 207–219.
Meng FQ, Ma W, Wang YL, et al. A tribo-positive Fe@MoS2 piezocatalyst for the durable degradation of tetracycline: Degradation mechanism and toxicity assessment. Environ Sci: Nano 2020, 7: 1704–1718.
Chen Y, Deng X, Wen J, et al. Piezo-promoted the generation of reactive oxygen species and the photodegradation of organic pollutants. Appl Catal B: Environ 2019, 258: 118024.
Jaffari ZH, Lam SM, Sin JC, et al. Magnetically recoverable Pd-loaded BiFeO3 microcomposite with enhanced visible light photocatalytic performance for pollutant, bacterial and fungal elimination. Sep Purif Technol 2020, 236: 116195.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51872264 and 51778391), Shaanxi Provincial National Science Foundation of China (No. 2020JM-579), Key Research and Development Program of Shaanxi Province, China (No. 2020GXLH-Z-032), and the Basic Public Welfare Research Program of Zhejiang Province, China (No. LGG18E020005).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Rights and permissions
Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made.
The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder.
To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
About this article
Cite this article
Chen, M., Jia, Y., Li, H. et al. Enhanced pyrocatalysis of the pyroelectric BiFeO3/g-C3N4 heterostructure for dye decomposition driven by cold-hot temperature alternation. J Adv Ceram 10, 338–346 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40145-020-0446-x
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40145-020-0446-x