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

doi:10.1007/s11783-020-1251-z

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng.

2020, Vol. 14

Issue (4) : 72 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-020-1251-z

RESEARCH ARTICLE

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

Jing Gu¹, Hongtao Yu¹, Xie Quan¹(

), Shuo Chen¹, Junfeng Niu²

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

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Abstract

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

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

• V_O from SnO₂ and TiO_x improve photoelectrochemical performances.

• Efficient photocatalytic degradations originate from the Z scheme construction.

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-TiO_x_(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-TiO_x 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.

Keywords Z-scheme photocatalyst Tin oxide Electron mediator Organic pollutant

Corresponding Author(s): Xie Quan

Just Accepted Date: 07 April 2020 Issue Date: 08 May 2020

Cite this article:

Jing Gu,Hongtao Yu,Xie Quan, et al. Utilizing transparent and conductive SnO₂ as electron mediator to enhance the photocatalytic performance of Z-scheme Si-SnO₂-TiO_x[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2020, 14(4): 72.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/10.1007/s11783-020-1251-z
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/Y2020/V14/I4/72

Fig.1 SEM images of Si-SnO₂ ((a) surface and (b) profile) and Si-SnO₂-TiO_x ((c) profile), (d) EDS spectrum and element mapping of (e) Si, (f) Sn, (g) Ti and (h) O.

Fig.2 (a) XRD patterns of Si-SnO₂-TiO_x, Si-SnO₂ and Si (Insert is the full figure), (b) I-V relation of Si-SnO₂ measured by four-point probe, (c) DRS and (d) ESR curves of the samples.

Fig.3 XPS spectra of Sn 3d ((a) surface, (b) etched for 30 s, (c) etched for 240 s) and O 1p ((d) surface, (e) etched for 30 s, (f) etched for 240 s) valence states of Si-SnO₂ and XPS spectra of Ti 2p ((g) surface, (h) etched for 30 s, (i) etched for 240 s) and O 1p ((j) surface, (k) etched for 30 s, (l) etched for 240 s) valence states of Si-SnO₂-TiO_x.

Fig.4 Chopped photocurrent responses of (a) Si under UV/vis light, (b) Si, Si-TiO_x and Si-SnO₂-TiO_x under UV/vis light, (c) Si-SnO₂-TiO_x under UV/vis and visible light and (d) CV tests of the as-prepared samples and (e) Photocurrent responses and (f) PL emission of the samples

Fig.5 (a) Phenol degradation at different potentials and (b) phenol degradation at zero potential with or without scavengers, (c–d) kinetic curves of the degradation process, (e) schematic diagram of degradation mechanism and (f) TOC removal at zero potential.

Fig.6 Schematic diagram of band position analysis of the components

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