Enhancement Photocatalytic Activity of the Heterojunction of Two-Dimensional Hybrid Semiconductors ZnO/V2O5

Abstract

In this work, we report the fabrication of the new heterojunction of two 2D hybrid layered semiconductors—ZnO (stearic acid)/V2O5 (hexadecylamine)—and its behavior in the degradation of aqueous methylene blue under visible light irradiation. The optimal photocatalyst efficiency, reached at a ZnO (stearic acid)/V2O5 (hexadecylamine) ratio of 1:0.25, results in being six times higher than that of pristine zinc oxide. Reusability test shows that after three photocatalysis cycles, no significant changes in either the dye degradation efficiency loss, nor the photocatalyst structure, occur. Visible light photocatalytic performance observed indicates there is synergetic effect between both 2D nanocomposites used in the heterojunction. The visible light absorption enhancement promoted by the narrower bandgap V2O5 based components; an increased photo generated charge separation favored by extensive interface area; and abundance of hydrophobic sites for dye adsorption appear as probable causes of the improved photocatalytic efficiency in this hybrid semiconductors heterojunction. Estimated band-edge positions for both conduction and valence band of semiconductors, together with experiments using specific radical scavengers, allow a plausible photodegradation mechanism.

Enhancement of Hydrogen Productions by Accelerating Electron-Transfers of Sulfur Defects in the CuS@CuGaS2 Heterojunction Photocatalysts

“…Then, after the competitive separation of the electron and hole pairs and the In general, the behavior of photogenerated carriers is closely related to photocatalytic activity. The generation, separation, transport and recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs have a great influence on photocatalytic activity [29]. Therefore, the photocurrent measurement and the photoluminescence measurement results are shown in Figure 4 in order to understand the separation efficiency and recombination characteristics of the photogenerated electrons and hole pairs.…”

A Bifunctional 2D Interlayered β‐Cu2V2O7/Zn2V2O6 (CZVO) Heterojunction for Solar‐Driven Nonsacrificial Dye Degradation and Water Oxidation

“…Thus, a possible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed to demonstrate the significant photocatalytic performance of the CZVO-opt heterojunction photocatalyst, as shown in Figure 7. [67] and Ag 3 VO 4 /WO 3 . [68] Meanwhile, holes on the VB of ZVO could be injected into VB of CVO and oxidize OH À to produce •OH (•OH/OH À is 2.38 eV vs. NHE).…”

Solar‐Inspired Water Purification Based on Emerging 2D Materials: Status and Challenges

“…2D V 2 O 5 including V 2 O 5 -based nanocomposite also had many reported on photocatalyst degradation fields. [378][379][380][381][382] It usually has an orthorhombic crystal structure, consisting of a zigzag double chain of VO 5 cones based on a square, bonded to corner-shared bridge oxygen atoms. [383] Zeleke and Kuo reported a V 2 O 5 -CeO 2 nanocomposite for photodegradation of MB under the irradiation of visible light.…”

“…2D V 2 O 5 including V 2 O 5 ‐based nanocomposite also had many reported on photocatalyst degradation fields . It usually has an orthorhombic crystal structure, consisting of a zigzag double chain of VO 5 cones based on a square, bonded to corner‐shared bridge oxygen atoms .…”