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Molten salt synthesis of 1T/2H mixed phase MoS 2 for boosting photocatalytic H 2 evolution performance via Schottky junction under EY-sensitized system. [Display omitted] Clean H 2 fuel obtained from the photocatalytic water splitting to hydrogen reaction could efficiently alleviate current energy crisis and the concomitant environmental pollution problems. Therefore, it is desirable to search for a highly efficient photocatalytic system to decrease the energy barrier of water splitting reaction. Herein, the 1T/2H mixed phase MoS 2 sample with Schottky junction between contact interfaces is developed through molten salt synthesis for photocatalytic hydrogen production under a dye-sensitized system (Eosin Y-TEOA-MoS 2) driven by the visible light. In mixed phase MoS 2 sample, the photogenerated electrons of 2H-phase MoS 2 migrated to the 1T-phase MoS 2 are difficult to jump back because of the existence of Schottky barrier, which greatly suppresses the quenching of EY and therefore results in an enhanced hydrogen evolution performance. Therefore, the optimized MoS 2 sample (MoS 2 -350) has an initial hydrogen evolution rate of 213 μmol h−1 and corresponding apparent quantum yield of 36.1 % at 420 nm, far higher than those of pure Eosin Y. It is strongly confirmed by the steady‐state/time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectra and transient photocurrent response experiments. With the assistance of Density functional theory (DFT) calculation, the function of Schottky junction in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction is well explained. In addition, a new and universal method (SVM curve) of judging oxidation or reduction quenching for photosensitizers is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Few-atom-thick two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2) monolayers possess numerous crucial applications in energy storage. Usually, the strategy of activating interfacial electron transfer was employed to promote their performance. Herein, we reshape the structure of materials to excite their subinterfacial and interfacial electron transfer for superior metal-ion batteries. As an example, we rationally design and reconfigure the structure of 2D MoS 2 and propose a new stable structure, B-MoS 2 , which has an S–Mo–S sandwich structure with a buckled square lattice. The B-MoS 2 monolayer is a promising anode material for magnesium-ion batteries (MgIBs) with a high capacity (921.3 mA h g−1) and a low averaged open circuit voltage (0.154 V). Multiscale underlying mechanisms for the storage of Mg and Li ions in MoS 2 are provided. Based on the electronic level, the high capacity is ascribed to the occurrence of interfacial and subinterfacial electron transfer between metal ions and B-MoS 2. Based on the atomic level, the insertion-adsorption mechanism or adsorption-insertion mechanism is determined for different ion storage at B-MoS 2. The intrinsic metallic property of B-MoS 2 and the enhanced electronic conductivity of Mg/B-MoS 2 systems as well as low migration barriers (∼0.604 eV) of Mg ions at MoS 2 suggest that the B-MoS 2 anode has fast charge/discharge rates. This work offers novel concepts (i.e. subinterfacial electron transfer and its activation) for superior energy storage materials, and proposes new multiscale underlying mechanisms for ion storage in the MoS 2 family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) can generate reactive oxygen species to kill cancer cells by activating sonosensitizers under ultrasound (US) irradiation. Nevertheless, its application is greatly limited by low quantum yield of sonosensitizers, high levels of endogenous glutathione (GSH) and tumor hypoxia. Herein, a GSH-activated sonosensitizers with synergistic therapy effect (chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and SDT) are developed by depositing Fe(III)-artemisinin infinite coordination polymers (Fe(III)-ART CPs) in pores of mesoporous TiO 2 nanoparticles (NPs). The formed Fe(III)-ART-TiO 2 NPs have high sono-induced electron-hole separation efficiency because the deposited Fe(III)-ART CPs can provide isolated intermediate bands to capture sono-induced electrons in TiO 2 NPs. Meanwhile, Fe3+ in Fe(III)-ART-TiO 2 NPs are reduced to Fe2+ by GSH with oxygen-deficient sites generated to further capture sono-induced electrons in TiO 2 NPs. Based on this, the reaction efficiency between water molecules and sono-induced holes is high enough to generate numerous hydroxyl radicals (•OH) without oxygen participated for overcoming tumor hypoxia. Additionally, through consuming GSH, the generated Fe2+ can catalyze ART to produce C-centered free radicals for CDT. Owing to these characteristics, Fe(III)-ART-TiO 2 NPs show significant tumor suppression ability and good biocompatibility in vivo. The strategy of using CDT agent to modify sonosensitizers offers new options to improve SDT effect without introducing harmful substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhanced photocatalytic H 2 evolution performance over a plasmonic Z-scheme nanostructure. • A heterostructure constituted of MoO 3-x and g-C 3 N 4 was synthesized by in-situ hydrothermal method. • The nanohybrid shows enhanced light harvesting capacity due to the plasmon excitation. • The charge carrier recombination was significantly inhibited by the Z-scheme charge transfer pathway. • The photocatalytic H 2 evolution was boosted by the plasmonic Z-scheme heterostructure. Light-harvesting capacity and photoexcited charge carrier separation ability are two crucial requirements for high-efficiency semiconductor photocatalysis. Here, we report a plasmonic Z-scheme nanohybrid by hydrothermally in-situ growing two-dimensional (2D) oxygen-deficient molybdenum oxide (MoO 3-x) nanoplates onto 2D graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) nanosheets. The resultant 2D/2D MoO 3-x /g-C 3 N 4 nanohybrids not only construct a unique Z-scheme heterojunction, which improves the photogenerated charge carrier separation efficiency, but also possess numerous oxygen vacancies on the surface of MoO 3-x , which could excite its plasmon resonance for extending spectrum adsorption. Importantly, the plasmon resonance can be readily designed by tailoring the oxygen vacancy concentration via an annealing in air. Benefiting from the synergetic effect of interfacial Z-scheme heterojunction and the tunable plasmon resonance of MoO 3-x , the as-obtained nanohybrids achieve a remarkably improved photocatalytic H 2 evolution efficiency. The optimal Z-scheme heterostructure presents 2.6 and 1.7 times higher of H 2 evolution rate as compared to pure g-C 3 N 4 and the annealing nanohybrid under visible light irradiation. Even under light irradiation with wavelength longer than 590 nm, the hybrid photocatalyst displays a H 2 generation rate as high as 22.8 µmol h−1 due to the plasmonic sensitization effect. The result in our work can provide an alternative for fabricating Z-scheme heterostructures that take advantages of Z-scheme-induced charge carrier separation, accompanied with plasmon-enhanced light harvesting of semiconductor to advance the solar energy conversion efficiency in photocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]