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Introducing piezoelectric materials with the built-in electric field caused by mechanical force has been confirmed as an effective strategy to boost the separation efficiency of photoexcited charge carriers that determines the photocatalytic performance. In this study, we introduced Bi4Ti3O12 with superior piezoelectric properties into BiVO4–Bi4V2O10 materials to synthesize a 2D Bi4Ti3O12–BiVO4–Bi4V2O10 photocatalyst via a facile hydrothermal method. Compared with bare BiVO4, the Bi4Ti3O12–BiVO4–Bi4V2O10 piezo-photocatalytic activity towards Cr(VI) removal and oxygen evolution is boosted remarkably under both illumination and ultrasound treatments. The promoted photocatalytic activity can be ascribed to the accelerated photoexcited carrier separation efficiency driven by the polarization electric field and the synergy effect in the heterostructure. This work provides a simple and sustainable strategy for the design and development of piezo-photocatalysts with high photoredox activity capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple calcination approach was performed to synthesize layered K3Ti5NbO14/g-C3N4 (TNCN) composites, in which g-C3N4 was formed both within the interlayers and on the surface of N-K3Ti5NbO14. The photocatalytic activity of samples was evaluated by the visible-light photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB). It was found that TNCN composite with a proper mass ratio of N-K3Ti5NbO14 to g-C3N4 exhibited the rapid rate of charge separation and high efficiency of light harvesting due to the synergetic effects of layered heterojunction and N doping, leading to an excellent photocatalytic activity. Especially, the in situ intercalated mono-layered g-C3N4 nanosheets can significantly increase the contact area between K3Ti5NbO14 layers and g-C3N4 nanosheets for efficient charge transfer across the interface, showing the greater effect on the enhanced photocatalytic activity. The active species trapping experiments and ESR measurements were carried out to evaluate the contribution of the active species in this photocatalytic degradation process. It was revealed that both superoxide radicals (·O2−) and holes (h+) are the main active species, while hydroxyl radicals (·OH) made a minor contribution to the photocatalytic degradation of RhB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A dual p-n heterojunction composed of NiCo 2 O 4 /NiO/Al: SrTiO 3 was fabricated. • The dual p-n heterojunction was constructed with electrostatic adsorption force. • MOF-derived NiCo 2 O 4 /NiO was used as the O 2 -producing co-catalyst for water splitting. • The property of dual p-n heterojunction is superior to the single p-n heterojunction. • The built-in electric field contributes to the enhanced photocatalytic performance. In this study, NiCo 2 O 4 /NiO/Al: SrTiO 3 (labeled as NCO/NO/ASTO) with dual p-n heterojunction structure was devised and in-situ fabricated for the first time, in which metal–organic framework (MOF)-derived NiCo 2 O 4 /NiO (NCO/NO) was utilized as the O 2 -producing co-catalyst. This dual p-n heterojunction with the matching built-in electric field made it possible to separate and transfer charge carriers in a manner that was substantially more effective than the use of a single p-n heterojunction. The NCO/NO/ASTO-1 exhibits an excellent overall water splitting performance of 1.74 (H 2)/0.85 (O 2) mmol g−1h−1 when exposed to UV radiation, which is 1.3 and 2.6 times that of NiCo 2 O 4 /Al: SrTiO 3 (NCO/ASTO) and NiO/Al: SrTiO 3 (NO/ASTO) with single p-n heterojunction structure, respectively. The electrostatic adsorption force and matching built-in electric field between ASTO and NCO/NO have been demonstrated, ensuring the presence as well as the stability of the dual p-n junction and accelerating the migration of photogenerated carriers. Moreover, density functional theory (DFT) was used to offer theoretical evidence of the driving force for the interfacial charge transfer in the NCO/NO/ASTO dual p-n heterojunction, which could be attributed to the difference in the work functions (Φ) of the components of NO, NCO, and ASTO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Narrowband emitters possess great potential in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) to achieve high color purity. However, developing highly efficient pure blue emitters with a simultaneously narrow full width at half-maximum (FWHM) value is a major challenge due to the energy-gap law and molecular stacking effect. Few efforts have focused on this challenging pursuit. Herein, an ingenious synthetic method was devised to achieve pure blue emitters incorporating bulky rigid planes as donors and highly twisted steric units as acceptors. Four emitters with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics, namely BCzPPM, BC-zPSP, IDCz-DBPM, and IDCz-BPSP, have been developed and used to fabricate non-doped devices. IDCz-BPSP achieves narrowed photoluminescence (PL) and electroluminescence (EL) with the benefit of suppressing vibronic coupling. Non-doped OLEDs based on IDCz-BPSP have achieved maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE max) of 4.61% with a FWHM of 25 nm/0.20 eV. The Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates was (0.154, 0.059), with CIE y being superior to the standard of European Broadcasting Union (EBU) 0.06. The hybridized local and charge-transfer (HLCT) states of IDCz-BPSP have simultaneously boosted the PL efficiency and exciton utilization. The EL process has even achieved exciton utilization at exceeding the theoretical limit of 25%. These results indicate that the strategy of combining bulky rigid plane donor units and steric hindrance effect is a favorable strategy for constructing emitters with narrow FWHM. [Display omitted] • A "single bond-linked" strategy for deep blue AIE emitters was proposed. • The HLCT states of IDCz-BPSP have simultaneously boosted the PL efficiency and exciton utilization. • IDCz-BPSP exhibits a narrow PL and EL FWHM of 24 nm (0.19 eV) and 25 nm (0.20 eV), respectively. • Non-doped OLEDs based on IDCz-BPSP provided ultrapure deep blue emission with CIE y ＜0.06. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a visible-light photocatalyst, bismuth iodide oxide (BiOI) is widely applied in water photocatalytic pollution degradation. However, due to the inherent high recombination rate of electron−hole pairs, an efficient photocatalytic performance could realize rarely by bare BiOI, resulting in its limited practical application. In this study, a novel type-II BiOI−C 3 N 5 heterostructure was prepared by a feasible solvothermal method to inhibit the recombination of photoexcited electrons and holes. The photocatalytic activity of the heterostructure was evaluated by degradation of tetracycline (TC) and penicillin G sodium. The results showed that compared with bare C 3 N 5 and BiOI, the photodegradation efficiency of tetracycline and penicillin G sodium was remarkable improved after heterostructure formation and the BiOI−C 3 N 5 (10% wt) samples demonstrated a higher degradation efficiency. The improvement of photocatalytic degradation activities can be attributed to the formation of type-II heterostructures with a close contact. Under the synergistic effect and interface structure in BiOI−C 3 N 5 , the spatial separation and transfer of charge carriers were increased significantly, which is in favor of enhancing the photocatalytic oxidation capacity of BiOI. [Display omitted] • A new BiOI-C 3 N 5 heterostructure was successfully constructed to heighten the photocatalytic oxidation capacity of BiOI. • Synergistic effect and interfacial fusions in BiOI −C 3 N 5 were formed for accelerating the charge carriers transfer. • The BiOI−C 3 N 5 heterostructures exhibit remarkable tetracycline (TC) and sodium penicillin G degradation performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is an effective strategy to improve photocatalytic degradation performance by constructing step scheme (S-scheme) heterojunction photocatalysts with superior photo-redox capacity and high charge transfer efficiency. In this study, a series of two-dimensional/two-dimensional (2D/2D) La 2 Ce 2 O 7 /g-C 3 N 4 (LCO/CN) S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts were synthesized via in-situ solid-phase sintering by regulating the mass ratio of raw materials. The large junction area between La 2 Ce 2 O 7 nanosheets and ultra-thin graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) endows the composite with significantly enhanced separation and transfer efficiency of photogenerated carriers within a satisfactory light response region. The LCO/CN-2 composite not only shows the highest photocatalytic activity with a reaction rate constant of 0.02701 min−1 to degrade Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation for 90 min but also demonstrates stable reusability after four runs. Moreover, based on the Mott-Schottky calculations, radical trapping experiments, and ESR analysis,·O2- and·OH are identified as the main active species, and an S-scheme charge transfer mechanism is suggested to explain the enhanced photocatalytic activity. This work inspires the application of fluorite-type photocatalysts to wastewater purification and environmental restoration. [Display omitted] • La 2 Ce 2 O 7 /g-C 3 N 4 2D heterojunction photocatalyst was successfully synthesized. • The dual active species synergistically degraded RhB pollutants. • LCO/CN-2 shows a reaction rate constant of 0.02701 min−1 under visible light. • La 2 Ce 2 O 7 /g-C 3 N 4 inspires the design of fluorite-type photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An all-organic S-scheme heterojunction has been successfully developed. • The heterojunction contains a D-A type conjugated polymer and C 3 N 4 nanosheets. • The interfacial heterojunction was fabricated via a π-π conjugated interaction. • DFT calculations indicated the formed built-in electric field drove charge transfer. • The optimal P 2 CNNS exhibits photocatalytic H 2 evolution rate of 50.2 mmol·g−1 h−1. Designing an excellent photocatalyst with high space separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers to boost the rate of photocatalytic hydrogen (H 2) generation remains a challenge. In this work, the S-scheme heterojunction containing a donor–acceptor (D-A) type conjugated polymer of PyDTDO-3 and a two-dimensional (2D)-layered conjugated polymer of C 3 N 4 nanosheets with conjugated heptazine units (denoted as PCNNS) was prepared for photocatalytic H 2 production. It is found that the recombination rate of photogenerated electron-hole pairs is decreased by the S-scheme heterojunction structure through establishing an intimate π–π conjugated heterointerface between PyDTDO-3 and C 3 N 4 NS. To clarify the potential photocatalytic mechanism, diversified characterization techniques were employed and the density functional theory (DFT) calculations were conducted. As a result of the difference in the work function, a Fermi level gap is formed between PyDTDO-3 and C 3 N 4 , which eventually leads to the band edge bent upward/downward and the presence of the built-in electric field causing the spontaneous interfacial charge transfer from C 3 N 4 NS to PyDTDO-3 at the π–π conjugated interface. Owing to its unique structure and optical properties, the optimal P 2 CNNS heterojunction photocatalyst shows excellent photocatalytic H 2 generation performance, which reaches a maximum of 50.2 mmol g−1 h−1 under visible illumination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-photon fluorescent probe ( DMPCA ) for the detection of bisulfite anion in water was developed based on twisted-intramolecular-charge-transfer (TICT) mechanism. Fluorescence intensity of DMPCA increased dramatically (65 fold) upon the addition of HSO 3 − . The two-photon absorption cross-section of DMPCA was found to be 725 GM at 700 nm upon the addition of HSO 3 − . The fluorescent probe showed an excellent selectivity for bisulfite anion over other anions. The nucleophilic addition reaction mechanism with aldehyde was confirmed with NMR and MALDI-TOF. The TICT detection mechanism was confirmed by viscosity-dependent fluorescence spectra and time resolved fluorescence spectra. Moreover, DMPCA was successfully applied to the detection of bisulfite anion in HeLa cells with low cytotoxicity under two-photon excitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hydrothermal method was employed to synthesize the novel 2D/2D BiOCl/H+Ti 2 NbO 7 − heterojunction photocatalysts, showing the improved photocatalytic RhB degradation efficiency. • 2D/2D BiOCl/H+Ti 2 NbO 7 − heterojunction was synthesized by a hydrothermal route. • 2D/2D heterostructure facilitated the efficient charge separation and transfer. • BiOCl/H+Ti 2 NbO 7 − showed the high photoactivity due to heterojunction formation. • The h+ and •O 2 − played a crucial role in RhB photodegradation. To realize highly efficient removal of organic pollutant is a hot spot in environmental and energy science. Herein, we firstly prepared re-stacked H+Ti 2 NbO 7 − nanosheets (HTN) to fabricate the novel two-dimensional (2D)-2D BiOCl/H+Ti 2 NbO 7 − (BHT) heterojunctions by a hydrothermal method. The HTN were well combined with BiOCl nanoplates with an intimate interface to form a heterostructure. The rhodamine B (RhB) molecules were used as a target pollutant to evaluate the photocatalytic performance of samples under visible light. All BHT composites, with an optimal sample of BHT-4, showed the improved photocatalytic activity for degradating RhB compared with the single BiOCl and HTN. The enhanced activity was mainly attributed to the efficient charge separation and transfer, which was resulted from the formation of heterojunction between BiOCl and HTN. The produced active species can be detected by trapping experiments and ESR spectra. It indicated that hole (h+) and superoxide radical (O 2 −) played a crucial role in the photocatalytic RhB degradation, while hydroxyl radical (OH) contributed a little. A possible photodegradation mechanism was also discussed based on the corresponding experimental results. This work provides an insight for preparing 2D/2D heterojunctions with a high photocatalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]