Synergistic enhancement of photocatalytic methylene blue degradation by In2O3/Bi2O3 heterojunction toward environmental remediation #MMPMID41360007
Bi X; Song YJ; Sun F; Xia P; Zou Y; Zhang X; Zhang T
Nanotechnology 2025[Dec]; ? (?): ? PMID41360007show ga
The development of efficient heterojunction photocatalysts for environmental remediation remains challenging due to rapid charge recombination and insufficient active sites in conventional single-component systems. This study developed a facile one-pot synthesis of In2O3/Bi2O3 heterojunction photocatalysts with tunable compositions for enhanced visible - light - driven photocatalytic degradation. By systematically modulating the In2O3 to Bi2O3 ratio, the optical properties, electronic structures, and photocatalytic activities of the materials can be precisely manipulated. The optimized 30% In2O3-Bi2O3 heterojunction exhibited a remarkable methylene blue (MB) degradation efficiency of 93% under visible light, outperforming pure In2O3 and Bi2O3. Mechanistic studies revealed that the type-II band alignment facilitated spatial separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and enhanced redox capacity. Furthermore, the surface oxygen vacancies of materials introduced by the alkaline etching method were found to significantly enhance the availability of active sites and optimize the band structure, contributing to a notable increase in photocatalytic activity. These heterojunctions also exhibited remarkable stability, retaining over 90% degradation efficiency after five consecutive cycles. This study indicates the significant potential of In2O3-Bi2O3 heterojunctions for enhancing environmental remediation and solar energy conversion initiatives, and also introduces an innovative approach to photocatalyst design by composition regulation and defect engineering.
Nanotechnology 2025 ; ? (?): ?
