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As a visible-light response semiconductor materials, bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) is extensively applied in photodegradation organic dye field. In this study, we synthesized C3N5 nanosheets and coupled with decahedral BiVO4 to construct a Z-scheme C3N5/BiVO4 heterostructure with close interface contact. By introducing C3N5 into BiVO4, the built Z-scheme transfer pathway provides silky channel for charge carrier migration between different moieties and enables photoexcited electrons and holes accumulated on the surface of BiVO4 and C3N5. The accelerated separation of charge carriers ensures C3N5/BiVO4 heterostructures with a powerful oxidation capacity compared with pure BiVO4. Due to the synergistic effect in Z-scheme heterostructure, the C3N5/BiVO4 demonstrated an improved photodegradation ability of rhodamine B (RhB) and methylene blue (MB) that of bare BiVO4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Photocatalytic evolution of hydrogen and oxygen from water splitting over semiconductors is an efficient method for solar energy conversion. In this study, the 2D/2D BiVO4−CdS heterostructures with Ti3C2Tx (Tx=O, OH, F) as a co‐catalyst were synthesized by two steps as the visible‐light‐driven photocatalysts. Compared with BiVO4 and CdS, the heterostructured catalysis exhibit greatly enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen and oxygen production performances and excellent photodegradation and photoreduction activities of methylene blue (MB) and potassium dichromate Cr(VI), respectively. The remarkable enhancement is attributed to the proposed Z‐scheme carrier transfer derived from the 2D/2D BiVO4−CdS heterostructures. Charge separation and transfer of photoexcited electrons and holes pairs are further enhanced after loading Ti3C2Tx in the BiVO4−CdS heterostructures. The potential Z‐scheme photocatalytic system and co‐catalyst endows the BiVO4−CdS−Ti3C2Tx heterostructures with strong photo‐redox capacity and excellent stability in solar energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 333 fecal specimens from horses in southwestern China were genotyped based on analysis of the small subunit rRNA ( SSU rRNA) gene. Cryptosporidium hominis and Cryptosporidium andersoni were identified in 2 and 4 stool specimens, respectively. The identification of C. hominis was confirmed by sequence analysis of the 70- kDa heat shock protein ( HSP70) and oocyst wall protein ( COWP) genes. Subtyping analysis of the 60- kDa glycoprotein ( GP60) gene sequence of C. hominis revealed a new rare subtype Id, named IdA15; only three Id isolates have been reported in humans to date. Multilocus sequence typing ( MLST) analysis indicated that the C. andersoni subtype was A6, A5, A2, and A1 at the four minisatellite loci ( MS1, MS2, MS3, and MS16, respectively). This is the first report to identify the presence of C. andersoni and C. hominis in horses in southwestern China and the first to identify a rare zoonotic subtype Id of C. hominis in horses. These findings suggest that infected horses may act as potential reservoirs of Cryptosporidium to transmit infections to humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Enterocytozoon bieneusi, the most commonly identified microsporidian species in humans, is also identified in livestock, birds, rodents, reptiles, companion animals, even wastewater. However, there is no information available on occurrence of E. bieneusi in pet chipmunks. The aim of the present study was to determine the genotypes, molecular characterization of E. bieneusi in pet chipmunks, and assess the zoonotic potential. Results: A total of 279 fecal specimens were collected from chipmunks from seven pet shops and one breeding facility in Sichuan province, China. The prevalence for E. bieneusi was 17.6% (49/279) based on nested PCR targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. The prevalence of E. bieneusi in chipmunks < 90 days of age was significantly higher than that in older chipmunks; however, differences among different sources and between genders were not significant. Eight genotypes of E. bieneusi were identified, including four known genotypes (D, Nig7, CHG9, and CHY1) and four novel genotypes (SCC-1 to 4). Phylogenetic analysis classified these genotypes into four distinct groups as follows: genotypes D and CHG9 clustered into group 1 of zoonotic potential; genotypes Nig7 and CHY1 clustered into group 6 and a new group, respectively; the four novel genotypes (SCC-1 to 4) formed a separate group named group 10. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the prevalence and genotypes of E. bieneusi in pet chipmunks in China. Genotypes D and Nig7, found in chipmunks in this study, have also been previously identified in humans, which suggests that chipmunks might play a role in the transmission of this pathogen to humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of Z-scheme heterostructures using matching band semiconductors is an effective strategy for producing highly efficient photocatalysts. In this study, MgIn 2 S 4 (MIS) was grown in situ on In 2 O 3 microrods created with an In-based MOF material (In-MIL-68) as a template to successfully establish a unique MIS-In 2 O 3 heterojunction with a well-matched Z-scheme interface charge transfer channel. Tetracycline (TC) as a typical antibiotic was chosen as the target pollutant to evaluate the photocatalytic activity. After 120 min of visible light irradiation, the MIS-In 2 O 3 -(10:1) material had the greatest photocatalytic degradation activity of tetracycline with 96.55%, which was 2.39 and 4.26 times that of MIS and In 2 O 3 , respectively. The improved photocatalytic activity is attributed to the in situ growth of MIS on In 2 O 3 , forming a Z-scheme heterojunction at the interface, which not only increases the specific surface area, exposes the abundant active site, and improves light utilization but also facilitates the migration and separation of photogenic carriers. The photocatalytic degradation products of TC were detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and a preliminary degradation pathway was proposed. Radical capture experiments and ESR analysis confirmed that the main active species were holes (h + ), superoxide radicals ( • O 2 - ), and superoxide and hydroxyl radicals ( • OH). Finally, combined with band position analysis, this study proposes a direct Z-scheme heterojunction mechanism to improve the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline in MIS under visible light.

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 Bi 4 Ti 3 O 12 with superior piezoelectric properties into BiVO 4 -Bi 4 V 2 O 10 materials to synthesize a 2D Bi 4 Ti 3 O 12 -BiVO 4 -Bi 4 V 2 O 10 photocatalyst via a facile hydrothermal method. Compared with bare BiVO 4 , the Bi 4 Ti 3 O 12 -BiVO 4 -Bi 4 V 2 O 10 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.

Bismuth vanadate (BiVO 4 ) is a promising photocatalyst for water pollution degradation and photocatalytic oxygen evolution. In this work, we prepared 2D/2D BiVO 4 -Bi 4 V 2 O 10 heterostructure with tight interfacial contact via a facile one-step hydrothermal process. The crystal structure and morphology of the samples could be easily regulated by changing the pH values of the solution. The BiVO 4 -Bi 4 V 2 O 10 heterostructure exhibited an enhanced photodegradation rate of Cr(VI) and oxygen evolution that of bare BiVO 4 , indicating that the synergistic effect and the interfacial fusions between BiVO 4 and Bi 4 V 2 O 10 can effectively promote the migration and separation rate of photoexcited charge carriers.