J. Mater. Sci. Technol. ›› 2024, Vol. 197: 160-170.DOI: 10.1016/j.jmst.2024.01.078

Special Issue: Catalytic materials 2024 Electronic materials 2024

• Research Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Unlocking enhanced photo-Fenton, night-Fenton, and photocatalytic activities of dual Z-scheme MoS2/WO3-x/Ag2S core-shell structure via defect engineering

Muhammad Abbasa, Kashif Hussainb, Navid Hussain Shaha, Mubashar Ilyasc, Rabia Batoold, M. Ashfaq Ahmadf,*, Yanyan Cuia,*, Yaling Wange,*   

  1. aBeijing Engineering Research Center of Mixed Reality and Advanced Display, School of Optics and Photonics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China;
    bTHz Technical Research Center; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Photonic Information Technology; Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University; THz Technical Research Center of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China;
    cKey Laboratory of Clusters Science of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China;
    dDepartment of Physics, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan;
    eCAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing 100190, China;
    fDepartment of Physics, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Received:2023-12-29 Revised:2024-01-26 Accepted:2024-01-26 Published:2024-10-20 Online:2024-10-15
  • Contact: *E-mail addresses: maahmad@cuilahore.edu.pk (M.A. Ahmad), cuiyanyan@bit.edu.cn (Y. Cui), wangyl@nanoctr.cn (Y. Wang)

Abstract: Memory catalysis and conventional Fenton reactions are intended to counteract prevailing energy and environmental crises; however, poor performance and the need for UV irradiation question their sustainability. Herein, we demonstrate defect-engineered, dual Z-scheme MoS2/WO3-x/Ag2S exhibiting enhanced photo-Fenton (PFR), night-Fenton (NFR), and photocatalytic activities (PR) against tetracycline (TC) and Rhodamine B (RhB). Defects enable the catalyst to store ample electrons just like metals, which play a vital role by exciting H2O2 during Fenton reactions. It removed 91.54 %, 76.43 %, and 83.39 % TC (40 mg L-1) in 100 min and registered degradation rate constants of 0.05379, 0.02858, and 0.04133 min-1 against RhB (20 mg L-1) during PFR, NFR, and PR respectively. The total organic carbon (TOC) removal rates reached 58.56 % and 60.88 % during TC and RhB degradations in PFR, respectively. Solid and Liquid EPR analysis shows it can excite H2O2 to carry Fenton reactions with and without light. It demonstrates wide pH adaptability and tremendous potential to simultaneously counter energy and environmental crises.

Key words: Fenton reaction, Photolysis, Core-shell, Dual Z-scheme, TC, WO3-x