Band alignment tuning of heptazine-g-C3N4/g-ZnO vdW heterostructure as a promising water-splitting photocatalyst

Comparative study of the photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4/MN4 (M = Mn, Fe, Co) for water splitting reaction: A theoretical study

In this study, nanocomposites of g-C3N4/MN4 (where M is Mn, Fe and Co) have been designed using advanced density functional theory (DFT) calculations. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on the geometry, electronic, optical properties, work function, charge transfer interaction and adhesion energy of the g-C3N4/MN4 heterostructures and concluded that g-C3N4/FeN4 and g-C3N4/CoN4 heterojunctions exhibit higher photocatalytic performance than individual units. The better photocatalytic activity can be attributed mainly by two facts; (i) the visible light absorption of both g-C3N4/FeN4 and g-C3N4/CoN4 interfaces are higher compared to its isolated analogs and (ii) a significant enhancement of band gap energy in g-C3N4/FeN4 and g-C3N4/CoN4 heterostructures limited the electron-hole recombination significantly. The potential of the g-C3N4/MN4 heterojunctions as a photocatalyst for the water splitting reaction was assessed by examining its band alignment for water splitting reaction. Importantly, while the electronic and magnetic properties of MN4 systems were studied, this is the first example of inclusion of MN4 on graphene-based material (g-C3N4) for studying the photocatalytic activity. The state of the art DFT calculations emphasis that g-C3N4/FeN4 and g-C3N4/CoN4 heterojunctions are half metallic photocatalysts, which is limited till date.

Dicarbon nitride and Janus transition metal chalcogenides van der Waals heterojunctions for photocatalytic water splitting

Two-dimensional graphene-like dicarbon nitride (C₂N) is a newly synthesized metal-free material, which has attracted significant research interest owing to the direct band gap, high carrier mobility, thermal stability, and great tunable properties. However, their application in photocatalytic water splitting has not been well explored. In this work, the properties of photocatalytic water decomposition in heterojunctions composed of C₂N and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) with Janus structure MoXY (X, Y = S, Se, Te) are systematically studied by the first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. The results show that except for MoTeS/C₂N, the other five heterojunctions have type-Ⅱ band alignment, which causes electrons and holes to gather in the C₂N and MoXY layer separately. Because the coupled built-in electric field at the intra-layer and inter-layer of asymmetric TMDs with Janus structure forms van der Waals heterojunction, the external electric field is an effective means of modulating the electronic properties of the heterojunction. Under the imposition of an external electric field, the MoSeS/C₂N, MoTeSe/C₂N, and MoTeS/C₂N heterojunctions meet the band edge requirements for the photocatalytic decomposition of water. Detailed analysis demonstrates that the MoSeS/C₂N heterojunction could effectively improve the optical absorption properties of monolayer C₂N, making it a potential photocatalytic water decomposition material.

Two-dimensional ZnO/BlueP van der Waals heterostructure used for visible-light driven water splitting: A first-principles study

Solar driven water splitting for hydrogen generation has been considered as an important method for collecting clean energy. Herein, based on first-principles calculations, we propose that ZnO/BlueP van der Waals heterostructure can realize overall water splitting reaction for hydrogen generation. Strikingly, the band-gap of 1.83 eV is appropriate, and band alignments straddle the water redox potentials, ensuring the occurrence of hydrogenevolutionreaction and oxygen evolution reaction. Charge density distribution and carrier mobility exhibit significant charge separation and transfer. Visible-light response is improved compared with those of the isolated monolayers. Moreover, hydrogenevolutionreaction is actually realized on the ZnO layer, while oxygen evolution reaction is implemented on the BlueP layer. Through the investigation of the adsorption and dissociation reactions of H₂O, we observe that two neighboring H*s prefer to combine to form H₂ by overcoming a lowered energy barrier of 0.75 eV. Strain effect indicates that the lateral compressive strain of -4% to 0% and the vertical tensile strain of 0% to +6% can effectively tune band-gap and band alignments. The results indicate that ZnO/BlueP vdW heterostructure is probable highly efficient photoelectric material used for visible-light driven water splitting for hydrogen generation.

GaN/MgI2 van der Waals heterostructure: a two-factor tunable photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution

With the increasing environmental pollution and energy crisis, it is significant to develop environmentally friendly and adjustable photocatalysts for water splitting. Here we explored the optoelectronic properties of several H-GaN/MgI₂ vdW heterostructures by regulating different polarization surfaces and numbers of GaN layers. Our results demonstrate that all structures, except 2L-Ga-GaN/MgI₂, exhibit excellent physical stability. Moreover, the band structures and band edge positions demonstrate that only the heterostructure of 3L-Ga-GaN/MgI₂ with both suitable band alignment (type-II) and an acceptable band gap (∼1.92 eV) is most satisfactory for water splitting. Additionally, the absorption coefficient of the 3L-Ga-GaN/MgI₂ heterostructure can reach over ∼10⁵ cm^-1, which has further confirmed its excellent advantage in photocatalysis. Finally, in the case of 6% external strain for the 3L-Ga-GaN/MgI₂ heterostructure, a rollover in band alignment (from type-II to type-I) is exhibited. These promising features of the GaN/MgI₂ vdW heterostructure give a new paradigm for developing novel efficient and adjustable photocatalytic water-splitting materials.

The Electronic Properties of g−ZnO Modulated by Organic Molecules Adsorption

Molecular doping is an excellent instrument to modify the electronic properties of two−dimensional materials. In our work, the structure and electronic properties of the adsorption systems of g−ZnO adsorbed by organic molecules (including Tetracyanoethylene (TCNE), Tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ), and Tetrahydrofulvalene (TTF)) were investigated computationally using Density Functional Theory (DFT). The results showed that the TCNE and TCNQ, as electron receptors, doped the LUMO energy level above the valence band maximum (VBM) of the g−ZnO band structure, demonstrating effective p−type doping. The n−type doping of g−ZnO was obtained that the TTF molecules, as electron donors, doped the HOMO energy level below the conduction band minimum (CBM) of the band structure for g−ZnO. In addition, the TCNE, TCNQ, and TTF breathed additional holes or electrons into the monolayer g−ZnO, creating surface dipole moments between the g−ZnO and organic molecules, which caused work function to be adjustable, ranging from 3.871 eV to 5.260 eV. Our results prove that organic molecular doping was instrumental in improving the performance of g−ZnO−based nano−electronic devices, providing theoretical support for the fabrication of p−doping or n−doping nano−semiconductor components. The tunable range of field emission capability of g−ZnO−based electronic devices was also extended.

Preparing a dual-function BiVO4/NiFe-LDH composite photoanode for enhanced photoelectrocatalytic wastewater treatment and simultaneous hydrogen evolution

The proposed PEC degradation over the BiVO4/NiFe-LDH photoelectrode under visible light irradiation and simultaneous hydrogen evolution at the cathode.

Enhancing the separation efficiency of photo-induced carriers in a Bi2S3/BiOCl heterostructure by cooperative influence of oxygen vacancies and the interfacial electric field

The outstanding photocatalytic activity of Bi2S3/BiOCl heterostructures derived from enhanced light-utilization efficiency is demonstrated.

Magnetically Recyclable Fe3O4@TMU-32 Metal-Organic Framework Photocatalyst for Tetracycline Degradation Under Visible Light

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a new class of porous crystalline materials being used as photocatalysts for efficient pollutant removal and environmental remediation. In this study, the TMU-32 MOF was synthesized as an effective photocatalyst for the photodegradation of tetracycline (TC) with 96% efficiency in 60 min under visible light. The high photocatalytic activity of the TMU-32 MOF is mainly due to its large specific surface area, which is beneficial for promoting both the adsorption of TC and the separation of the photoinduced charges. Moreover, its desired crystallinity makes it a semiconductor with an appropriate band gap energy. Next, a composite of the TMU-32 MOF with Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (as Fe₃O₄@TMU-32) was prepared as a magnetically recyclable photocatalyst. The results showed that the photocatalytic activity of the Fe₃O₄@TMU-32 nanocomposite is slightly lower (68% degradation of TC within 60 min) than that of TMU-32 toward TC degradation since Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles are not acting as a photocatalyst and are used only to make the host photocatalyst (here, TMU-32) magnetically separable. The effects of the photocatalyst concentration and recyclability on the photodegradation of TC were studied under similar conditions. We found that the Fe₃O₄@TMU-32 composite is easily recycled without a significant loss of photocatalytic activity after being used several times, indicating the stability of the photocatalyst. Finally, a density functional theory study was also conducted to investigate the structural and electronic properties such as the band gap energy and density of states of the TMU-32 MOF and the Fe₃O₄@TMU-32 composite. Our computational results are in good agreement with the experimental ones. A photocatalytic degradation mechanism was finally proposed under visible-light photoirradiation.