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One-dimensional (1D) defective γ-Fe 2 O 3 nanorods (DFNRs) photoanode is fabricated via solvothermal and high-temperature hydrogenation strategies, which exhibits excellent visible-light photoelectrochemical performance and long-term stability, due to the formation of moderate oxygen vacancy defects promoting spatial charge separation and transfer at semiconductor/electrolyte interface, and 1D nanorod structure favoring rapid charge transfer. [Display omitted] • γ-Fe 2 O 3 nanorods photoanode with engineered surface oxygen vacancy are fabricated. • It exhibits excellent visible-light photoelectrochemical performance and long-term stability. • It can be ascribed to the formation of moderate oxygen vacancy defects promoting spatial charge separation and transfer at the semiconductor/electrolyte interface. • 1D nanorod structure is favoring rapid charge transfer. • The surface of γ-Fe 2 O 3 with amounts of hydroxyl (–OH) provides adequate surface-active sites. Rapid charge recombination in hematite (Fe 2 O 3) during photoelectrochemical water splitting is a major obstacle to achieving high-efficiency photoelectrodes. Surface defect engineering is considered as a viable strategy for enhancing photoelectrochemical activity of oxide photoanodes. Herein, a one-dimensional (1D) defective γ-Fe 2 O 3 nanorods (DFNRs) photoanode is prepared using solvothermal and high-temperature hydrogenation strategies. The as-prepared DFNRs possess superior visible-light absorption capacity and exhibit excellent photoelectrochemical performance (0.98 mA cm−2), with approximately three-fold higher photocurrent density than that of pristine Fe 2 O 3 (FNRs, 0.32 mA cm−2). The enhanced activity of the DFNRs results from the moderate formation of oxygen vacancy defects, which promotes spatial charge separation and transfer at the DFNRs/electrolyte interface, as well as the 1D nanorod structure, which favors rapid charge transfer. The surface of γ-Fe 2 O 3 with hydroxyl (OH) groups provides sufficient surface-active sites. This result suggests that surface-oxygen deficiency of γ-Fe 2 O 3 can not only expand the light absorption range but also facilitating photo-generated charge carriers separation. This surface engineering strategy provides an alternative method for preparing stable and highly active metal oxide photoanodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interface engineering is usually considered to be an efficient strategy to promote the separation and migration of photoexcited electron-hole pairs and improve photocatalytic performance. Herein, reduced graphene oxide/mesoporous titanium dioxide nanotube heterojunction assemblies (rGO/TiO2) are fabricated via a facile hydrothermal method. The rGO is anchored on the surface of TiO2 nanosheet assembled nanotubes in a tightly manner due to the laminated effect, in which the formed heterojunction interface becomes efficient charge transfer channels to boost the photocatalytic performance. The resultant rGO/TiO2 heterojunction assemblies extend the photoresponse to the visible light region and exhibit an excellent photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of 932.9 μmol h−1 g−1 under simulated sunlight (AM 1.5G), which is much higher than that of pristine TiO2 nanotubes (768.4 μmol h−1 g−1). The enhancement can be ascribed to the formation of a heterojunction assembly, establishing effective charge transfer channels and favoring spatial charge separation, the introduced rGO acting as an electron acceptor and the two-dimensional mesoporous nanosheets structure supplying a large surface area and adequate surface active sites. This heterojunction assembly will have potential applications in energy fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis (OP), a skeletal disease making bone mechanically deteriorate and easily fracture, is a global public health issue due to its high prevalence. It has been well recognized that besides bone loss, microarchitecture degradation plays a crucial role in the mechanical deterioration of OP bones, but the specific role of microarchitecture in OP has not been well clarified and quantified from mechanics perspective. Here, we successfully decoupled and identified the specific roles of microarchitecture, bone mass and tissue property in the failure properties of cancellous bones, through μCT-based digital modeling and finite element method simulations on bone samples from healthy and ovariectomy-induced osteoporotic mice. The results show that the microarchitecture of healthy bones exhibits longitudinal superiority in mechanical properties such as the effective stiffness, strength and toughness, which fits them well to bearing loads along their longitudinal direction. OP does not only reduce bone mass but also impair the microarchitecture topology. The former is mainly responsible for the mechanical degradation of bones in magnitude, wherever the latter accounts for the breakdown of their function-favorable anisotropy, the longitudinal superiority. Hence, we identified the microarchitecture-deterioration-induced directional mismatch between material and loading as a hazardous feature of OP and defined a longitudinal superiority index as measurement of the health status of bone microarchitecture. These findings provide useful insights and guidelines for OP diagnosis and treat assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To demonstrate the experience of laparoscopic radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer without the use of a uterine manipulator and investigate the feasibility and treatment effectiveness of this surgical approach.Materials and Methods: The laparoscopic radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer by pulling the round ligament without a uterine manipulator prevented the oppression of the uterine manipulator on the tumour. Vaginal ligation was performed below the lesion of cervical cancer, and the vagina was cut off below the ligation line. Consequently, the exposure of cancer tissues in the abdominal cavity was prevented, enabling a tumour-free operation. We reviewed the medical records of the 22 patients with stage IB1-IIA2 cervical squamous cell carcinoma who were treated at our hospital between May 2019 and February 2020. All the patients underwent the laparoscopic radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer by pulling the round ligament. All the patients were informed about the different therapeutic schemes and surgical approaches as well as their advantages and disadvantages. Information about operative time, intraoperative blood loss, hospitalisation duration, postoperative complications, postoperative adjuvant therapy, prognosis and other data were recorded.Results: All the surgical procedures were successfully completed without perioperative complications, such as vascular injury, pelvic injury and abdominal organ injury. The mean operative duration was 204 min, and the mean operative blood loss was 102 mL. The mean duration of postoperative hospital stay was 13 days. Nineteen patients received postoperative chemotherapy once before hospital discharge. Urinary retention was the major postoperative complication. All the patients were followed up for 14-23 months. The median follow-up time was 18 months. 21 of the 22 patients survived. No recurrence was detected in the patients during follow-up. One patient who had a pelvic lymph node metastasis but refused complete chemoradiotherapy died before the last follow-up.Conclusions: This surgical approach appears to be safe and feasible for patients with cervical cancer. A larger sample size and longer follow-up period are required to confirm whether this surgical approach can actually and effectively improve the prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesoporous TiO 2 nanospheres with engineered surface defects are fabricated through surfactant-mediated self-assembly solvothermal approach combined with surface hydrogenation, which exhibit excellent solar-driven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, due to surface defects induced charge imbalance improving charge separation, and unique spherical mesoporous structure supplying adequate surface-active sites and facilitating mass transfer. [Display omitted] • Surface defects induced charge imbalance promote charge separation. • Mesoporous TiO 2 nanospheres with engineered surface defects are fabricated. • Nanoscale mesoporous spheres have closed packing and low surface energy. • It exhibits excellent solar-driven photocatalytic H 2 evolution and high stability. • Surface defects and mesostructure favor charge separation and mass transfer. Low charge separation efficiency of semiconductor materials is the main obstacle for high-performance photocatalyst. Herein, we report surface defects engineered uniform mesoporous TiO 2 nanospheres (DMTNSs) through surfactant-mediated self-assembly solvothermal approach combined with hydrogenation strategy to promote charge separation. The surface defects induced charge imbalance result in the formation of built-in field, which can promote photogenerated charge separation efficiently and be confirmed by experimental and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Under AM 1.5G irradiation, the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of DMTNSs is ~3.34 mmol h−1 g−1, almost 3.5 times higher than that of pristine non-defective TiO 2 nanospheres (0.97 mmol h−1 g−1), due to the engineered surface defects narrowing the bandgap (~3.01 eV) and inducing charge imbalance to boost spatial charge separation and extend visible-light response. The defect induced charge imbalance strategy opens a new valuable perspective for fabricating other high-efficient oxide photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ag-polydopamine nanoparticles co-decorated defective mesoporous carbon nitride assembly with wide spectrum response is fabricated, which exhibits robust photothermal-photocatalytic H 2 production, due to Ag-PDA not only extends the light absorption of DCN, but also forms an efficient Z-scheme charge transfer path with DCN, enabling fast electron transfer. [Display omitted] • Ag-polydopamine nanoparticles co-decorated defective mesoporous carbon nitride assemblies are fabricated. • Ag-polydopamine nanoparticles co-decorated promote efficient charge transfer. • Small-sized Ag nanoparticles as efficient cocatalysts enables efficient charge separation. • Ag-polydopamine extends photoabsorption and produces obvious photothermal effect to improve catalyze activity. • The formation of Z-scheme charge transfer mechanism favors spatial charge separation. Ag-polydopamine nanoparticles co-decorated defective mesoporous carbon nitride nanosheets assemblies (Ag-PDA/DCN) with wide spectrum responseare fabricated. The Ag-PDA/DCN assemblies exhibit excellent photocatalytic hydrogen production performance. The visible light and near-infrared light driven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate is up to 3840 μmol h−1 g−1, which is 20 and 7 times higher than those of DCN and PDA/DCN, respectively. This is mainly because the Ag-polydopamine nanoparticles not only form an efficient carrier transport path and realize fast electron transport, but also further extend the photoresponse of DCN, resulting in an obvious photothermal effect to further improve the photocatalytic activity. More importantly, the formed Ag nanoparticles by the low-temperature photodeposition method is smaller in size and better in dispersibility. Ag nanoparticles act as a co-catalyst in Ag-PDA/DCN, which can effectively separate the spatially photogenerated charge carriers. Compared to three systems with different Ag decoration positions, Ag-PDA/DCN with Z-scheme charge transfer mechanism is more favorable for promoting photocatalytic performance. This co-decorated strategy provides a new idea for developing low-cost Pt-free photocatalysts for solar energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In-situ S-doped porous anatase TiO 2 nanopillars are synthesized by a facile one-step thermal protection method. The prepared photocatalysts are characterized in detail by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, N 2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results indicate that the obtained TiO 2 samples present porous nanopillar structure, which can maintain the anatase phase at 700 °C calcination. With the calcination temperatures increasing, the doped S atoms in the TiO 2 surface decrease gradually. The TiO 2 samples calcined at 700 °C (T700) exhibit the optimum visible-light photocatalytic activity, and 163.9 μmol h −1 g −1 of H 2 evolution can be obtained. It can be attributed to the high anatase crystallinity, porous structure and S element introduction of T700. Therefore, the obtained photocatalysts will have the potential application in energy and environmental field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, TiO 2 nanomaterial photocatalysts for energy and environmental applications have attracted extensive research interest. However, the main bottlenecks are the large bandgap (3–3.2 eV), which limits the amount of light absorption, and the relatively high charge-carrier recombination, which restricts the photocatalytic performance. Fortunately, recent reports indicate that engineering the defects of TiO 2 could broaden the photoresponse and promote charge separation efficiency. To further promote the photocatalytic performance of solar energy, it is necessary to summarize the recent progress in defective TiO 2 photocatalysts. In this review, various synthesis strategies for defective TiO 2 , especially black TiO 2 nanomaterials, and their applications are summarized. The defect types and characteristics as well as the photocatalytic mechanism are reviewed and discussed in detail. This review is of great significance for environmental remediation and energy production in the field of photocatalysis. Defective TiO 2 Photocatalysts are fabricated through hydrogenation, plasma, chemical reduction, electrochemical reduction, oxidation approaches, etc. The types of defects including bulk defects and surface defects and their photocatalytic applications are also summarized, in which oxygen vacancy and Ti3+ defects are of great importance for promoting photocatalytic performance. [Display omitted] • This review describes defective TiO 2 photocatalysts from three different aspects. • The recent development in preparation and application of defective TiO 2 photocatalysts are reported. • Different types of defects in TiO 2 are reviewed. • The way of defective TiO 2 photocatalysts are described by reduction and oxidation strategies. • The influence of defective TiO 2 photocatalysts in fields of solar energy conversion is reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanomaterials have been widely used in photocatalytic energy conversion and environmental remediation due to their advantages of low cost, chemical stability, and relatively high photo-activity. However, applications of TiO2 have been restricted in the ultraviolet range because of the wide band gap. Broadening the light absorption of TiO2 nanomaterials is an efficient way to improve the photocatalytic activity. Thus, black TiO2 with extended light response range in the visible light and even near infrared light has been extensively exploited as efficient photocatalysts in the last decade. This review represents an attempt to conclude the recent developments in black TiO2 nanomaterials synthesized by modified treatment, which presented different structure, morphological features, reduced band gap, and enhanced solar energy harvesting efficiency. Special emphasis has been given to the newly developed synthetic methods, porous black TiO2, and the approaches for further improving the photocatalytic activity of black TiO2. Various black TiO2, doped black TiO2, metal-loaded black TiO2 and black TiO2 heterojunction photocatalysts, and their photocatalytic applications and mechanisms in the field of energy and environment are summarized in this review, to provide useful insights and new ideas in the related field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Mesoporous black TiO 2 /MoS 2 /Cu 2 S hierarchical tandem heterojunction photocatalysts are fabricated. • MoS 2 acts as a bridge between black TiO 2 and Cu 2 S to form tandem heterojunctions. • MoS 2 and Cu 2 S extend photoresponse to NIR region and exhibit an obvious photothermal effect. • It shows excellent visible-light-driven photocatalytic H 2 production performance. • It is ascribed to the hierarchical tandem heterojunction favoring charge transfer and separation efficiency. Mesoporous black TiO 2 /MoS 2 /Cu 2 S (b-TiO 2 /MoS 2 /Cu 2 S) hierarchical tandem heterojunctions visible-light photocatalysts are fabricated through evaporation-induced self-assembly, high-temperature hydrogenation, and solvothermal strategies. Mesoporous black TiO 2 (b-TiO 2) serves as the host to assemble MoS 2 and Cu 2 S, which could absorb near-infrared energy to enhance photothermal effect. MoS 2 nanosheets with vertical growth on b-TiO 2 not only act as co-catalyst but also serve as a bridge to integrate mesoporous black TiO 2 microspheres and Cu 2 S nanoparticles in tandem systems, thereby can effectively transfer and separate photogenerated charge carriers. The visible-light photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of the b-TiO 2 /MoS 2 /Cu 2 S without any precious metals cocatalysts is as high as 3376.7 μmol h−1 g−1, which is about 16 times higher than that of b-TiO 2. The excellent photocatalytic performance could be ascribed to the formation of hierarchical tandem heterojunctions with suitable band gap alignment favoring charge transfer and separation, and the introduction of MoS 2 and Cu 2 S extending photoresponse to NIR region. In addition, both MoS 2 and Cu 2 S with narrow band gap could convert solar light into heat energy, which further promotes photocatalytic performance. The designed strategy could provide new insights for fabricating other tandem heterojunctions with high-performance for solar energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Stable Ag nanoparticles supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been successfully synthesized by calcinations of the complexes of Ag cation and acid-treated MWCNTs under sparging N2. The nanocomposites are characterized in detail by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV–visible absorption spectroscopy. The results indicate that Ag nanoparticles are relatively homogeneously dispersed on the surface of MWCNTs. The bactericidal properties of Ag/MWCNT nanocomposites are investigated with disk diffusion assay on the suspension samples inoculated with Escherichia coli. The results show that Ag/MWCNTs-500 nanocomposites possess excellent bactericidal property because of their suitable particle size (15nm). Moreover, Ag nanoparticles supported on MWCNTs are very stable for half a year. What is more, the bactericidal effect was enhanced obviously under solar irradiation. This is because MWCNTs can absorb near-infrared light to kill parts of bacteria. A possible formation mechanism is also proposed in this article. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: DNA-wrapped multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were successfully obtained by a simple sonication treatment method. The obtained materials were characterized in detail by Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). An SEM image showed that MWCNTs were dispersed sufficiently and covered entirely with DNA. This resulted in high aqueous solubility of the products, with a stability of more than several months. The interaction between DNA and MWCNTs was confirmed by Raman measurements and was ascribed to the strong π–π interactions between the backbones of DNA and the surface of carbon nanotubes. The cyclic voltammograms showed that the composite exhibited excellent electrochemical properties. Experimental results also revealed that the high dispersion of DNA-assisted MWCNTs presented a better property compared with pristine MWCNTs. This facile method for obtaining water-soluble MWCNTs has great potential application for both bioscience and biotechnology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new effective catalytic system consisting of [Cp*IrCl2]2/K2CO3 (Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) for the N-alkylation of primary amines with alcohols has been developed. As an example, the reaction of aniline with benzyl alcohol in the presence of [Cp*IrCl2]2 (5.0 mol%Ir) and K2CO3 (5.0 mol%) in toluene at 110°C for 17 h gave benzylaniline in an isolated yield of 88%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Defects engineering is significant for photocatalytic environment remediation. To this end, visible‐light‐driven α‐Fe2O3/ZrO2‐x S‐scheme heterojunction photocatalysts with optimal oxygen vacancy (Ov) defects are successfully synthesized via a two‐step method. Compared with pristine UiO‐66‐NH2‐derived ZrO2‐x and α‐Fe2O3, the heterojunction photocatalysts exhibit a wider range of visible light response and higher efficiency in separating photogenerated electron–hole pairs. Among them, the 5% α‐Fe2O3/ZrO2‐x sample shows the best photocatalytic performance to the degradation of tetracycline (TC) (89.3%), in which the pseudo‐first‐order kinetic rate constants are 8.20 and 16.75 times that of pristine ZrO2‐x and α‐Fe2O3, respectively. The outstanding photocatalytic degradation efficiency can be attributed to both the narrow‐bandgap ZrO2‐x with visible light response and the formation of α‐Fe2O3/ZrO2‐x S‐scheme heterojunctions. During the formation of heterojunctions, the concentration of oxygen vacancies (Ov) at the interface of α‐Fe2O3/ZrO2‐xdecreases monotonically with the increasing loading of α‐Fe2O3, thereby altering the electronic structure of the photocatalyst and forming the heterojunction firmly. In addition, the high stability implies the potential applications in fields of environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leveraging solar energy through photocatalytic hydrogen production from water stands out as one of the most promising approaches to address the energy and environmental challenges. The choice of catalyst profoundly influences the outcomes of photocatalytic reactions, and constructing heterojunctions has emerged as a widely applied strategy to overcome the limitations associated with single-phase photocatalysts. MoO3, renowned for its high chemical stability, encounters issues such as low photocatalytic efficiency and fast recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. To tackle these challenges, the morphology of MoO3 has been controlled to form nanorods, simultaneously suppressing the aggregation of the catalyst and increasing the number of surface-active sites. Moreover, to facilitate the separation of photogenerated charge carriers, Cd0.9Zn0.1S nanoparticles with a twin crystal structure are deposited on the surface of MoO3, establishing an S-scheme heterojunction. Experimental findings demonstrate that the synergistic effects arising from the well-defined morphology and interface interactions extend the absorption range to visible light response, improve charge transfer activity, and prolong the lifetime of charge carriers. Consequently, Cd0.9Zn0.1S/MoO3 S-scheme heterojunctions exhibit outstanding photocatalytic hydrogen production performance (3909.79 μmol g−1 h−1) under visible light irradiation, surpassing that of MoO3 by nearly nine fold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the most prevalent disease with high mortality, leading to devastating heart injury. Here, we aimed to explore the effect of MAS1 on the MI-induced myocardial injury. Significantly, we identified that the expression of MAS1 was decreased in the MI rat model and hypoxia and reoxygenation (H/R)-treated H9C2 cells. Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) staining revealed that the overexpression of MAS1 notably attenuated MI-related myocardium injury in the MI rat model. Echocardiography analysis revealed that MI inhibited left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fraction shortening (LVFS), whereas the MAS1 overexpression could increase LVEF and LVFS in the MI rats. Meanwhile, the expression of collagen I, collagen III, α-SMA, ANP, and BNP was decreased by MAS1 overexpression in the MI rats. MAS1 attenuated cardiomyocyte apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. Mechanically, the overexpression of MAS1 decreased the expression of PTEN and enhanced the phosphorylation of PI3K and AKT in vivo and in vitro. The overexpression of PTEN and the PI3k inhibitor LY294002 could reverse the MAS1-mediated MI injury. Thus, we conclude that MAS1 inhibits MI-induced myocardial injury by modulating PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling. Our finding provides new insight into the mechanism by which MAS1 attenuates MI-related cardiac dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polydopamine/defective ultrathin mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride Z-scheme organic assembly is fabricated via N -vacancy defects and π-π interactions, which exhibits robust photocatalytic H 2 production and contaminant degradation, due to the direct Z-scheme charge transfer mechanism to realize efficient spatial charge separation, and the enhanced photothermal effect to promote the photocatalytic reaction. [Display omitted] • Polydopamine/defective ultrathin mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride organic assemblies are fabricated. • N -vacancy and π-π interactions provide strong connection and fast charge transfer. • Z-scheme structure enables efficient of photogenerated charges separation. • Polydopamine extends photoabsorption and produces photothermal effect to improve catalyze activity. Polydopamine/defective ultrathin mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (PDA/DCN) Z-scheme organic assembly is fabricated through high-temperature surface hydrogenation and ultrasonic freeze-dried strategies. PDA could be anchored on the surface of DCN with adequate N -vacancy defects firmly via π-π interactions, forming Z-scheme heterogenous structure for promoting charge separation. The visible and near-infrared light driven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate is up to 3420 μmol h−1 g−1, and the removal ratio of organic contaminant methylene blue is up to 98% within 70 min, which is several times higher than that of pristine graphitic carbon nitride and DCN. The important reason is the defects of DCN not only enhance the interaction with PDA, but also make the obvious polarized inbuilt electric field, and lead to Z-scheme structure for effective charge separation and rapid transfer, which is also confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In addition, PDA extends the photoresponse to the near-infrared region and induces obvious photothermal effect to increase the reaction rate of the photocatalytic system. The efficient photothermal conversion of PDA/DCN should be another reason for the enhanced photocatalytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • TiO 2 /defective UiO-66 porous octahedral S-scheme heterojunctions are constructed. • The strong interaction and charge migration behavior between TiO 2 and defective UiO-66 have been studied. • S-scheme heterostructures accelerated charge separation and transfer efficiency. • Superoxide radicals were the dominant oxidizing agents for photocatalytic tetracycline removal. Photocatalysis is an alternative for antibiotics removal from wastewater for the sustainable development of human society. However, applying photocatalysts for antibiotics (e.g., tetracycline) degradation under practical conditions is highly restricted by the low reaction efficiency due to the prompt charge recombination. Constructing porous heterojunctions is an efficient way to regulate the electron transfer path and accelerate charge migration efficiency. Herein, TiO 2 /defective UiO-66 porous octahedral S-scheme heterojunctions are successfully fabricated through an in-situ growth strategy. The strong interaction and charge migration behavior between TiO 2 and defective UiO-66 have been studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements. The photocatalytic removal efficiency of tetracycline is notably improved by forming TiO 2 /defective UiO-66 porous heterojunctions. The promoted photocatalytic performance can be ascribed to the strong interaction between TiO 2 and defective UiO-66, and the accelerated charge separation and transfer efficiency due to the formation of S-scheme heterojunctions, thus generating abundant reactive oxygen species, including O 2 − and OH. The optimized 38-TiO 2 /UiO-66-300 can eliminate 97.9 % of tetracycline in 60 min with a reaction constant rate of 0.0425 min−1, which is approximately 4 and 10 times that of pristine TiO 2 and UiO-66-300, respectively. This work provides an alternate strategy for preparing highly active heterojunction photocatalysts for environmental applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterojunctions are of great importance for improving photocatalytic performance. Using simple solvothermal and solid reduction techniques, plasmon bismuth (Bi0) nanoflake-decorated BiFeO3 (BBFO) heterojunction photocatalysts with numerous oxygen vacancies (OVs) were created. The OVs not only improved photo-generated carrier separation, but also the sorption and activation of antibiotic compounds (tetracycline hydrochloride, TC). Furthermore, the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of the Bi0 nanoflakes can boost visible light absorption and inhibit charge carrier recombination, resulting in an excellent ability for TC elimination under visible light illumination. The removal ratio of TC for BBFO is up to 99%, which is several times higher than that for pure BiFeO3. The obvious photothermal effect could further enhance the photocatalytic activity owing to an SPR effect and defect engineering. Trapping experiments indicate that the emergence of plentiful OVs, the participation of metal Bi0 nanoflakes, and the formation of heterojunctions can significantly promote photogenerated charge separation, thus improving photothermal-photocatalytic performance. This work combines thermal and chemical energies in solar energy conversion for efficient degradation of pollutants, which would bring new ideas to solve the problems of environmental pollution and energy shortage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D-layered ZnIn 2 S 4 nanosheets (ZIS NSs) have been considered as a promising photocatalysts to produce H 2. Nevertheless, the carrier recombination of 2D ZnIn 2 S 4 is still severe, which limits its photocatalytic efficiency and practical applications. Herein, the defective ZnIn 2 S 4 nanosheets with S vacancies (DZIS NSs) is fabricated via an easy one-step solvothermal process only by changing the used solvent without a complex physical or/and chemical secondary treatment, which can realize efficient photocatalytic H 2 generation. The resultant DZIS NSs show enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity and well stability after 5 cycles. And the photocatalytic HER rate of DZIS NSs is up to 5437 μmol−1 h−1 g−1, nearly 2.6 times of pristine ZIS NSs (2090 μmol−1 h−1 g−1). The experimental data suggest that the excellent photocatalytic HER performance of DZIS NSs is attributable to the existence of S vacancies, which can form a S defect energy level under the lower conduction band (CB), offering abundant active sites for hydrogen activation, extending the visible light absorption range and narrowing the bandgap of DZIS NSs. Such defect engineering strategy opens new avenues for other sulfide photocatalysts to further boost photocatalytic activity. • The ZnIn 2 S 4 nanosheets with S vacancies (DZIS NSs) was synthesized successfully. • The DZIS NSs exhibited efficient photocatalytic H 2 generation. • The S vacancies could form a S defect energy level under the lower CB of DZIS NSs. • The existence of S vacancies could offer abundant active sites for H 2 activation. • The introduction of S vacancies extended light absorption of DZIS NSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen-defective Bi 2 MoO 6 /g-C 3 N 4 hollow tubulars S-scheme heterojunctions are fabricated by hydrothermal and calcination methods and show excellent photocatalytic performance. The S-Scheme heterojunction accelerates the effective charge separation and transfer by internal electric field (IEF) and energy band bending at the interface, thus improving the photocatalytic performance. [Display omitted] Novel S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts of bismuth molybdate/hollow tube graphite carbon nitride (Bi 2 MoO 6 SOVs/g-C 3 N 4) containing surface defects (SOVs) were prepared by calcination and hydrothermal methods. The hollow tubular structure of g-C 3 N 4 facilitates the enhancement of multiple reflection and scattering of light, and also have a larger range of specific surface areas and more reactive sites, which promotes carrier separation and thus improves photocatalytic performance. The introduction of SOVs to bismuth molybdate not only reduces the band gap of bismuth molybdate, but also promotes the separation of charges. The optimized Bi 2 MoO 6 SOVs/TCN photocatalyst has a hydrogen production efficiency of 2.29 mmol h−1 g−1. It also shows high photocatalytic degradation property of tetracycline and bisphenol A in water, up to 97.3 % and 98.9 %, respectively. Meanwhile, the transfer mechanism of photogenerated charges in S-scheme heterojunctions can be verified by electron paramagnetic resonance and in situ irradiated x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy electron paramagnetic resonance, which accelerated the separation and transfer of photogenerated charge by energy band bending at the interface and internal electric field. This rational structural design strategy provides a new development idea for building high-performance S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doping engineering of metallic elements is of significant importance in photocatalysis, especially in the transition element range where metals possess empty 'd' orbitals that readily absorb electrons and increase carrier concentration. The doping of Mn ions produces dipole interactions that change the local structure of BiOCl, thus increasing the specific surface area of BiOCl and the number of mesoporous distributions, and providing a broader platform and richer surface active sites for catalytic reactions. The combination of Mn doping and metal Bi reduces the forbidden bandwidth of BiOCl, thereby increasing the absorption in the light region and strengthening the photocatalytic ability of BiOCl. The degradation of norfloxacin by Bi/Mn-doped BiOCl can reach 86.5% within 10 min. The synergistic effect of Mn doping and Bi metal can change the internal energy level and increase light absorption simultaneously. The photocatalytic system created by such a dual-technology combination has promising applications in environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The preconditions of surface reconstruction in MOFs-based nanomaterials are reviewed from both internal and external aspects. • The surface reconstruction phenomenon of MOFs-based electrocatalysts for OER is summarized. • The effect of surface reconstruction on catalytic performance of MOFs-based nanomaterials is systematically summarized. • The challenges and opportunities of surface reconstruction are proposed. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are widely used to prepare oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts due to their unique structural and compositional advantages, such as adequate available active sites, high specific surface areas and strong regulation of skeleton structures. However, many MOF-based catalysts inevitably undergo irreversible surface reconstruction during the redox process at high potential before transitioning into a real catalyst from a precatalyst. Therefore, revealing the mechanism and process of surface reconstruction is conducive to the directed synthesis of OER catalysts with high catalytic activity and stability. In addition, studying the reconstruction process and its positive effect on OER catalytic performance can promote the development of MOF-based nanomaterials in practical applications. This review summarizes the surface reconstruction phenomenon of MOF-based nanomaterial electrocatalysts for OER, followed by a discussion on the effects of structural and compositional transformation on the catalytic activity. The causes and conditions of surface reconstruction and its influence on OER performance are discussed, demonstrating the structure–activity relationship between surface reconstruction and catalytic performance. Finally, the challenges and opportunities of surface reconstruction are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the photocatalytic performance of semiconductor catalysts, one of the most widely used strategies is to combine two or more semiconductors with appropriate energy band structures to construct heterojunctions for an extended light absorption range and effective charge separation. Here, a novel Z-scheme heterojunction is fabricated via the Cd0.3Zn0.7S twin crystal and the narrow band gap semiconductor Ag3PO4. The resulting Cd0.3Zn0.7S/1%Ag3PO4 photocatalyst exhibits excellent photocatalytic hydrogen production capability (167.29 μmol h−1), which is two times higher than that of Cd0.3Zn0.7S and 44/7 times higher than that of pristine ZnS/CdS. The excellent photocatalytic performance is not only attributed to the defective twin crystal structure of Cd0.3Zn0.7S but also related to the well-matched Z-scheme interface between Cd0.3Zn0.7S and Ag3PO4, and both factors effectively promote the separation of the photogenerated electron–hole pairs and prolong the lifetime of the carriers, being responsible for the excellent photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance of the catalysts. This strategy provides new insights into the construction of efficient twin crystal heterojunctions for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution with high performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semiconductor photocatalysts are essential materials in the field of environmental remediation. Various photocatalysts have been developed to solve the contamination problem of norfloxacin in water pollution. Among them, a crucial ternary photocatalyst, BiOCl, has attracted extensive attention due to its unique layered structure. In this work, high-crystallinity BiOCl nanosheets were prepared using a one-step hydrothermal method. The obtained BiOCl nanosheets showed good photocatalytic degradation performance, and the degradation rate of highly toxic norfloxacin using BiOCl reached 84% within 180 min. The internal structure and surface chemical state of BiOCl were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–visible diffuse reflectance (UV-vis), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), and photoelectric techniques. The higher crystallinity of BiOCl closely aligned molecules with each other, which improved the separation efficiency of photogenerated charges and showed high degradation efficiency for norfloxacin antibiotics. Furthermore, the obtained BiOCl nanosheets possess decent photocatalytic stability and recyclability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reasonable design of heterojunction photocatalysts can effectively promote charge separation, thus improving their photocatalytic performance. Herein, a Bi2Fe4O9@ZnIn2S4 S-scheme laminated heterojunction photocatalyst with 2D/2D interface interaction is prepared via a hydrothermal–annealing–hydrothermal method. The photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of Bi2Fe4O9@ZnIn2S4 is up to 3964.26 μmol h−1 g−1, which is 12.1 times higher than that of pristine ZnIn2S4. In addition, its photocatalytic tetracycline degradation efficiency (99.9%) is also optimized. The enhanced photocatalytic performance can be attributed to the formation of S-scheme laminated heterojunctions that facilitate charge separation as well as strong 2D/2D laminated interface interactions favoring charge transfer. By combining in situ irradiation X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy with other characterization methods, the photoexcited charge transfer mechanism of S-scheme heterojunctions has been proved. Photoelectric chemical tests demonstrate the effectiveness of the S-scheme laminated heterojunction in improving the charge separation. This strategy provides a novel perspective for designing other high-efficient S-scheme laminated heterojunction photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic elimination of antibiotics from the environment and drinking water is of great significance for human health. However, the efficiency of photoremoval of antibiotics such as tetracycline is severely limited by the prompt recombination of electron holes and slow charge migration efficacy. Fabrication of low-dimensional heterojunction composites is an efficient method for shortening charge carrier migration distance and enhancing charge transfer efficiency. Herein, 2D/2D mesoporous WO3/CeO2 laminated Z-scheme heterojunctions were successfully prepared using a two-step hydrothermal process. The mesoporous structure of the composites was proved by nitrogen sorption isotherms, in which sorption-desorption hysteresis was observed. The intimate contact and charge transfer mechanism between WO3 nanoplates and CeO2 nanosheets was investigated using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements, respectively. Photocatalytic tetracycline degradation efficiency was noticeably promoted by the formation of 2D/2D laminated heterojunctions. The improved photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the formation of Z-scheme laminated heterostructure and 2D morphology favoring spatial charge separation, confirmed by various characterizations. The optimized 5WO3/CeO2 (5 wt.% WO3) composites can degrade more than 99% of tetracycline in 80 min, achieving a peak TC photodegradation efficiency of 0.0482 min−1, which is approximately 3.4 times that of pristine CeO2. A Z-scheme mechanism is proposed for photocatalytic tetracycline by from WO3/CeO2 Z-scheme laminated heterojunctions based on the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel Ti 3+ -TiO 2 /Ce 3+ -CeO 2 nanosheet heterojunctions are successfully prepared via a facile hydrothermal approach combined with a wet-chemical deposition precipitation and an in situ solid-state chemical reduction strategy. The structures of the as-prepared samples are characterized in detail by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The results show that Ti 3+ and Ce 3+ are both doped into the lattice of TiO 2 and CeO 2 , respectively, which narrow the band gap to 2.7 eV and extend the photoresponse to visible light region. The photocatalytic degradation rate of methyl orange and methylene blue are as high as 93.3% and 97.1% under visible-light illumination, respectively. The high degradation rate is attributed to the efficient doping of Ti 3+ and Ce 3+ , formation of surface oxygen vacancy and heterojunction, which favors the absorption of visible light and separation of photogenerated charge carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D mesoporous black TiO 2-x /Ag nanosphere coupled with 2D g-C 3 N 4 sheet ternary heterojunctions are successfully fabricated through a facile evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) process and photodeposition method, followed by a mild calcination (350 °C) under an argon atmosphere after an in situ solid-state chemical reduction strategy. The resultant mesoporous black TiO 2-x /Ag/g-C 3 N 4 ternary heterojunctions with narrow band gap of ∼ 2.27 eV possess a relative high specific surface area of ∼ 100 m 2 g −1 , main pore size of 6.2 nm and the highest visible-light-driven photocatalytic property for degradation of methyl orange (97%) and methylene blue (99%). The apparent reaction rate constants (k) of mesoporous black TiO 2-x /Ag/g-C 3 N 4 for methyl orange and methylene blue are ∼ 9 and 11 times higher than that of pristine TiO 2 . The possible mechanism is proposed, and the excellent photocatalytic property can be ascribed to the introduction of Ti 3+ self-doping and g-C 3 N 4 , which favor the visible light absorption and the separation of electron-hole pairs, the surface plasma resonance effect of Ag nanoparticle, and the mesoporous networks offer more surface active sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique light absorption and emission capabilities, multi-exciton effect and surface effect of semiconductor QDs are reviewed, and the mechanism and application of these properties are systematically analyzed. A systematic classification of QDs, including single metal, II-VI, III-V, I-III-VI and perovskite of quantum dot photocatalysts, providing quantum dot photocatalysts in environmental repair and the latest research progress in energy production. It provides new ideas for understanding and mastering quantum dot photocatalysts. [Display omitted] • The mechanism and application of the unique properties of quantum dots are reviewed. • The recent progress of quantum dot materials in the field of photocatalysis is reviewed. • The common photocatalytic mechanisms of quantum dot photocatalysts are reviewed. • The potential development direction of each quantum dot photocatalyst was reviewed. Photocatalysis is a cutting-edge technology with the potential to solve environmental pollution and energy crisis. In recent years, the great advantages of semiconductor quantum dots in the field of photocatalysis have attracted widespread attention, such as excellent visible light absorption, multi-exciton effect, surface effect and adjustable energy bands. Semiconductor quantum dots have indeed met people's expectations in the field of photocatalysis and have been successfully used in hydrogen production, CO 2 reduction, pollutant degradation and other fields. This review focuses on the unique optoelectronic properties of semiconductor quantum dots that distinguish them from bulk materials, and describes the mechanisms and applications of these properties in the field of photocatalysis. We classify quantum dots into five categories, including elemental metal quantum dots, II-VI quantum dots, III-V and I-III-VI quantum dots, perovskite quantum dots. The properties and problems of each quantum dot are described, and the applications of quantum dot materials in solving environmental and energy problems are proposed. Finally, the research prospects of semiconductor quantum dot photocatalysts are also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-thermostably ordered mesoporous TiO 2 /SiO 2 nanocomposites are successfully prepared through evaporation-induced self-assembly method combined with ethylenediamine bounding strategy and subsequent high-temperature calcinations (700 °C). The prepared samples are characterized in detail by thermogravimetric-differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, Raman, transmission electron microscopy and N 2 adsorption. The results indicate that the samples are ordered mesostructure and the presence of SiO 2 inhibits the anatase-to-rutile phase transformation at high temperature. Significantly, the experimental results show that the high-thermostably ordered mesoporous TiO 2 /SiO 2 nanocomposites play bifunctional roles on effectively adsorbing As (III) and completely oxidizing higher toxic As (III) to lower toxic As (V) under various pH values by one time. Moreover, after recycling for ten times the composites still keep wonderful photocatalytic and adsorption performance. The subtly nanostructured bifunctional composites will have broad application prospects in contaminated water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Na-doped g-C3N4/NiO 2D/2D laminated p–n heterojunction nanosheets are fabricated by facile calcination and hydrothermal methods. The average thickness of g-C3N4 nanosheets is ∼1.388 nm, and the ultrathin structure allows for a high specific surface area and enough surface active sites, increasing the surface reactivity. The flower ball like structure of NiO increases the light utilization rate. Na doping accelerates charge separation and transport by increasing the electrical conductivity. The g-C3N4 and NiO nanosheets form 2D/2D laminated structures, and the spherical structure can suppress the agglomeration of 2D nanosheets, which could realize adequate interface contact and form efficient p–n heterojunctions. The p–n heterostructure builds an internal electric field to accelerate spatial charge separation. Under visible light irradiation, the photocatalytic degradation efficiency for ciprofloxacin and the hydrogen production rate of Na-doped g-C3N4/NiO are up to 99.0%, and 2299.32 μmol h−1 g−1, respectively, which are several times higher than those of the pristine one. The fabrication strategy for 2D/2D laminated heterojunctions may provide new insights for the preparation of novel laminated photocatalysts with high performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic energy conversion is widely considered as a promising energy conversion method for solving the energy crisis, while efficient energy conversion has long been pursued by researchers. Among the strategies for improving energy conversion, element engineering, comprising doping and vacancies, has attracted extensive attention as a convenient and effective modification method. Focusing on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4), this review elaborated the mechanism of element engineering in the g-C 3 N 4 photocatalytic process and summarized the fabrication strategies for doping and vacancy. Furthermore, this review listed the applications of g-C 3 N 4 with element engineering in photocatalysis and described the prospects for its development. It is expected that this review could not only deepen the comprehension of element engineering but also open up inspirations and feasibilities for the design and application of g–C 3 N 4 –based materials. Element engineering, including doping and vacancy, is an effective strategy to improve the performance of g-C 3 N 4. However, exploration of the distinction and association between the strategies of doping and vacancy is still lacking for g-C 3 N 4 , which disturbs the comprehension on it. Thus, to fill this gap, this review summarized the recent progress in the doping and vacancy of g-C 3 N 4 from the point of element engineering and discussed their effects on photocatalytic performance. This review will deepen the comprehension of element engineering and provide inspiration and feasibility for the design and application of g–C 3 N 4 –based materials. [Display omitted] • The roles of element engineering in the g-C 3 N 4 photocatalytic process were elaborated. • The construction strategies for element doping and vacancy of g-C 3 N 4 were summarized. • The photocatalytic applications of vacancy and doping modified g-C 3 N 4 were presented. • The challenges and perspectives of element engineering-based g-C 3 N 4 were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) has been attracted lots of interest and now are considered as one of the most promising materials in the field of H 2 O 2 photosynthesis science 2020, indicating that it has become an emerging hot field. Therefore, a timely and comprehensive review of this topic to promote further development is highly desirable, especially in terms of the microenvironmental relationship between structural design and performance. In view of this, the Review summarizes the recent research progress with a focus on the impact of microenvironmental changes in COFs on the performance of H 2 O 2 photosynthsis, and discusses the current research status, critical challenges, possible future directions. In addition, this Review will deepen the comprehension of microenvironmental regulation and provide inspiration and feasibility for the design and application of COFs-based materials. [Display omitted] • The research progress of COFs used for generating H 2 O 2 were summarized. • The impact of microenvironmental changes in COFs on H 2 O 2 production was elucidated. • The critical challenges and possible future directions for H 2 O 2 were clarified. • This will provide guidance for constructing COFs with effective H 2 O 2 photosynthesis. Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2), as a green liquid energy source, has shown promising potential in multiple fields. The covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have leaped the photocatalytic production of H 2 O 2 since 2020 due to their controllable construction units and abundant active sites. Here, we describe the latest research progress in COFs based photocatalysts for H 2 O 2 photosynthesis. Then, focusing on the impact of microenvironmental changes in building units on the performance of H 2 O 2 , the construction strategies for improving the efficiency of COFs photocatalytic H 2 O 2 production was summarized, and the development ideas of COFs in the field of H 2 O 2 photosynthesis were prospected. Through comparative evaluation, this Review aims to clarify the current research status, critical challenges, and possible future directions, which will undoubtedly stimulate innovative ideas in designing photocatalysts for efficient production of H 2 O 2. In addition, this timely Review will give insight into the COFs with microenvironmental regulation more comprehensively and provide a novel perspective for effectively improving the efficiency of H 2 O 2 photosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] A hollow core–shell potassium phosphomolybdate (KMoP)@cadmium sulfide (CdS)@bismuth sulfide (Bi 2 S 3) Z-scheme tandem heterojunction is fabricated by a simple hydrothermal strategy and kept in a water bath to continue the reaction. At the same time, the ternary structure combined Keggin-type polyoxometalate with two photosensitive sulfide semiconductors to form a stable hollow core–shell heterojunction. KMoP@CdS@Bi 2 S 3 with a narrow band gap of ∼ 1.2 eV also has excellent photothermal performance, which may further promote photocatalytic efficiency. The hollow core–shell KMoP@CdS@Bi 2 S 3 tandem heterojunction shows excellent H 2 production performance, CrVI reduction ability and photocatalytic degradation performance of highly toxic tetracycline (TC). Under visible light irradiation, the photocatalytic H 2 generation rate of the KMoP@CdS@Bi 2 S 3 tandem heterojunction reaches 831 μmol h−1, which is 103 times higher than that of pristine KMoP. The photocatalytic reduction efficiency of CrVI and degradation efficiency of TC are as high as 95.5 and 97.51%, ∼4 times higher than that of KMoP. The boosted photocatalytic performance can be ascribed to the formation of core–shell Z-scheme tandem heterojunctions favoring spatial charge separation and the narrow band gap, which extends the photoresponse to visible light/NIR regions. When TC and CrVI exist at the same time, the reduction efficiency of CrVI can be as high as 99.64% because the intermediate of TC degradation can promote the reduction of CrVI. In addition, the photocatalytic performance of the KMoP@CdS@Bi 2 S 3 heterojunction remains nearly constant after 4 recycles, which indicates high stability. The design strategy may provide new insights for preparing other high-performance core–shell tandem heterojunction photocatalysts for solar energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent progress of core–shell MOF including core@MOF, MOF@shell and core–shell-like MOF photocatalysts for environmental remediation and energy production are reviewed. The common synthesis strategies are also reviewed, including one-pot synthesis, in-situ synthesis, self-template method and layer-by-layer assembly method, which can provide new insights for fabricating high-efficient MOF-based photocatalysts. [Display omitted] • This paper reviews the common synthesis strategies of core–shell MOF-based composites. • The recent advances of core–shell MOF-based photocatalysts are reviewed. • The common photocatalytic mechanism is summarized. • The core–shell MOF-based photocatalysts for energy and environment is reviewed. • The potential direction for core–shell MOF-based photocatalysts is proposed. Photocatalysis is a prospective technology that directly converts solar energy into chemical energy under mild reaction conditions. The development of photocatalysts with high-performance is the core faced by photocatalytic technology. Recently, core–shell metal organic frameworks (MOFs), which are composed of MOFs as the core or shell with other materials, have attracted extensive attention in photocatalytic applications. The core–shell MOF structure results in huge advantages, such as large specific surface areas, adequate exposed surface-active sites, and low photogenerated electron-hole recombination. This review briefly summarizes the common synthesis strategies of core–shell MOF-based materials, including one-pot synthesis, in-situ synthesis, self-template method and layer-by-layer assembly method. In this review, the research progress of core@MOF, MOF@shell and core–shell-like MOF photocatalysts in environmental remediation and energy production is also summarized. Finally, the perspectives of core–shell MOF-based photocatalysts are also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BiOCl materials have received much attention because of their unique optical and electrical properties. Still, their unsatisfactory catalytic performance has been troubling researchers, limiting the application of BiOCl-based photocatalysts. Therefore, many researchers have studied the adjustment of BiOCl-based materials to enhance photocatalytic efficiency. This review focuses on surface and interface engineering strategies for boosting the photocatalytic performance of BiOCl-based nanomaterials, including forming oxygen vacancy defects, constructing metal/BiOCl, and the fabrication of semiconductor/BiOCl nanocomposites. The photocatalytic applications of the above composites are also concluded in photodegradation of aqueous pollutants, photocatalytic NO removal, photo-induced H 2 production, and CO 2 reduction. Special emphasis has been given to the modification methods of BiOCl and photocatalytic mechanisms to provide a more detailed understanding for researchers in the fields of energy conversion and materials sciences. [Display omitted] • Advances in the surface and interface engineering of BiOCl nanomaterials are described. • Formation of vacancies, metal/BiOCl junctions, and heterojunctions are described. • Applications in photocatalysis are demonstrated in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • ZnO@Bi 4 O 5 I 2 /ZnS tandem heterojunction is fabricated by three thermal reactions. • Unique core-shell nanostructure restrains photo-corrosion of Bi 4 O 5 I 2. • Tandem heterojunction favors spatial charge separation. • The narrow bandgap of 2.40 eV extends the photoresponse region. A novel zinc sulfide quantum dot (ZnS QD)/zinc oxide (ZnO) nanosphere/bismuth-enriched bismuth oxyiodide (Bi 4 O 5 I 2) tandem heterojunction photocatalyst is fabricated through two-step solvothermal, calcination and one-step hydrothermal strategies. The successfully constructed core-shell nanostructure can increase the interface area and the active sites of the composite photocatalysts. The formation of a Z-scheme/Type-II tandem heterojunction favors the transfer and spatial separation of charge carriers, in which Bi 4 O 5 I 2 plays a bridging role to connect ZnO and ZnS. Simultaneously, the participation of Bi 4 O 5 I 2 significantly shortens the band gap of the composite photocatalyst. This dual functional ZnO@Bi 4 O 5 I 2 /ZnS composite photocatalyst has a high photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of 578.4 µmol g−1h−1 and an excellent photocatalytic degradation efficiency for bisphenol A (BPA) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (TCP). In addition, cycling tests show that ZnO@Bi 4 O 5 I 2 /ZnS has a high stability, which is favorable for practical applications. This novel ZnO@Bi 4 O 5 I 2 /ZnS Z-scheme/Type-II tandem heterojunction photocatalyst will provide new ideas for the multichannel charge transfer of other highly efficient heterojunction photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing photocatalytic technologies for pollutants removal with high harmless product selectivity is a significant challenge. Construction and optimization of nanocomposites junction with appropriate band alignments is an effective method for achieving this objective. Herein, a unique popcorn-stick-like NH 2 -UiO-66/TiO 2 nanotube nanocomposites with staggered band alignment is fabricated. The small metal organic frameworks (MOFs) particles with diameters around 20 nm are uniformly dispersed on the surface of TiO 2 nanoplates, creating a popcorn-stick-like structure. The resulting as-synthesized nanocomposites photocatalysts show distinguished photocatalytic activity for simultaneous removal of carbon particles and nitrogen dioxide with 100% NO 2 conversion and 99% N 2 selectivity, about 3.9 times higher than that of pristine TiO 2. The significant enhancement is attributed to the rapid charge separation and transfer in TiO 2 and NH 2 -UiO-66 interface and the visible light absorption. The enhanced charge transfer follows double charge transfer mechanism, which is confirmed by surface photovoltage spectroscopy, photoluminescence, transient photocurrent measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. This study demonstrates the potential for the simultaneously removal of two pollutants using the composite of TiO 2 and MOF materials with high surface area and visible light absorption ability, thereby providing the possible applications of NH 2 -UiO-66/TiO 2 composites in environmental remediation including air purification and wastewater treatment. • Unique popcorn-stick-like NH 2 -UiO-66/TiO 2 nanocomposites are constructed. • Improved light absorption and charge separation are confirmed by various techniques. • Photocatalytic carbon oxidation rate with NO 2 of the composites is about 3.9 times that of pristine TiO 2. • Charge transfer of NH 2 -UiO-66/TiO 2 heterojunctions proceeds via double charge transfer mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hollow nanobox-like metal organic framework@defect-rich layered double hydroxide S-scheme heterojunctions are obtained via twice etching and exhibit good photocatalytic properties. It can be ascribed to the construction of S-scheme heterojunctions that facilitate spatial charge separation and the hollow core–shell structure that facilitates light utilization. [Display omitted] • A novel hollow H-PBA@D-LDH core–shell S-scheme heterojunction is fabricated. • It shows excellent photothermal-photocatalytic performance. • Unique hollow structure improves the efficiency of light utilization. • The core–shell structure can provide adequate surface-active sites. • The heterojunction contains inherent defects and shows high activity and stability. Effective photogenerated charge separation in the photocatalytic process is a crucial issue. Herein, hollow Prussian blue analog@defect-rich layered double hydroxide S-scheme heterojunctions are successfully obtained by two-sept etching strategies. Firstly, the hollow Prussian blue analog (H-PBA) is formed by ammonia etching. Subsequently, ZIF-67 is uniformly grown on the H-PBA surface and formed into defect-rich layered double hydroxide (D-LDH) nanocages by ion exchange. This hollow core–shell structure of H-PBA@D-LDH enables the photocatalyst to have more active sites. Meanwhile, in-situ XPS and the work function revealed the direction of electron transfer, providing evidence for the formation of S-scheme heterojunctions. In addition, transient photoluminescence and photoelectrochemical tests confirmed that the H-PBA@D-LDH S-scheme heterojunctions had longer charge lifetimes and enhanced photoelectrochemical properties. The presence of photothermal effect increases the temperature of the H-PBA@D-LDH composite system, which promotes the photocatalytic process. As a result, the H-PBA@D-LDH S-scheme heterojunction exhibited excellent photocatalytic degradation efficiency and hydrogen production rate (260.320 μmol h−1), which were several times higher than those of H-PBA and D-LDH. This work provides a new idea for the design of S-scheme photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CdS/KPW/meso-g-C 3 N 4 tandem heterojunction is fabricated for the first time. • It has good light response and narrow band gap. • It exhibits excellent visible light photocatalytic activity. • It can be due to the synergy between the Z-scheme and type-II heterojunction. • The tandem heterojunction favors the spatial charge carrier separation greatly. It is known that fabrication of tandem heterojunctions between different types of heterojunctions can promote the charge separation. Herein, novel cadmium sulfide quantum dots (CdS QDs)/dodecahedral phosphotungstic acid potassium K 3 PW 12 O 40 (KPW)/oxygen-doped mesoporous graphite carbon nitride (meso-g-C 3 N 4) nanosheets tandem heterojunctions are prepared by the hydrothermal method combined with direct template calcination and in-situ chemical sedimentation strategy. The results show that tandem heterojunctions formed by the Z-Scheme heterojunction between CdS QDs and KPW and the type-II heterojunction between CdS QDs and meso-g-C 3 N 4 can extend the optical response into visible light region. Importantly, under visible light irradiation, photocatalytic hydrogen production rate and photocatalytic Cr6+ removal rate over CdS/KPW/meso-g-C 3 N 4 is higher than that of KPW and CdS/KPW. This remarkable photocatalytic performance is due to the effective charge separation and transfer of the special tandem heterojunction structure. This novel tandem heterojunction will offer new insights for fabricating other high-performance photocatalytic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnS quantum dots/Urchin-like Bi 2 S 3 spheres/Meso-g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets heterojunctions photocatalysts are fabricated via hydrothermal and template-calcination strategies and show excellent visible-light-driven photothermal-photocatalytic performance, which could be ascribed to the formation of heterojunctions and mesoporous structure favoring the spatial separation of photogenerated charge carriers and offering more surface active sites. • ZnS/Bi 2 S 3 /Meso-g-C 3 N 4 ternary heterojunction photocatalysts are prepared. • It exhibits excellent wide-spectrum photothermal and photocatalytic performance. • Meso-g-C 3 N 4 acts a bridge for separating and accelerating electrons transfer. • It mainly due to the special structure and synergistic effect of each component. Wide-spectrum response ZnS quantum dots/urchin-like Bi 2 S 3 spheres/mesoporous g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets ternary photocatalysts are prepared via the hydrothermal and template-calcination processes. The deposited ZnS quantum dots with the size of ~10 nm are bedecked on the surface of mesoporous g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets uniformly. Mesoporous g-C 3 N 4 performs as a bridge for electrons transferring among the three semiconductor photocatalysts in ternary heterojunction structure. The photocatalytic H 2 evolution for ZnS/Bi 2 S 3 /mesoporous g-C 3 N 4 reaches to 663.3 µmol h−1 g−1 under the sunlight irradiation, which is approximately 5 times higher than that of pristine mesoporous g-C 3 N 4 ; Moreover, the photocatalytic degradation of Bisphenol A is also up to 98.8% under the visible light irradiation; Surprisingly, the apparent reaction rate constant (k) of ZnS/Bi 2 S 3 /mesoporous g-C 3 N 4 is approximately 5 times higher than mesoporous g-C 3 N 4. The excellent photocatalytic performance may put down to the formation of ternary heterojunction and mesoporous structure, which could promote charges separation and offer more surface active sites, respectively, and the specific photothermal effect, which even has photo-response in the near infrared region. This work also offers a novel strategy for constructing other highly photocatalytic performance quantum dots-semiconductor photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the theory of composite mechanics, a three-pillar framework "bone mass-microarchitecture-tissue property" instead of "bone mass-bone quality", is proposed to quantitively characterize the mechanical deterioration of osteoporotic cancellous bones related to the three aspects, and accordingly the individual and integrative influences of bone mass, microarchitecture and tissue property on the mechanical properties of cancellous bones are investigated via the μCT-based finite element method (FEM) simulations of bone samples from healthy and ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis mice. Comparisons among the healthy, mild osteoporotic and severe osteoporotic bones clearly show that the healthy bones have a larger bone volume density and an optimized architecture exhibiting longitudinal superiority able to more efficiently resist the daily loadings which are commonly along their longitudinal direction, while osteoporosis does not only significantly reduce the bone volume density but also greatly deteriorate the microarchitectural topology, resulting in a distinct reduction in the magnitude of effective Young's moduli and a breakdown of the longitudinal superiority as well. Furthermore, through modeling in silico we decoupled the three major factors to probe into their individual effects on the mechanical deterioration of osteoporotic bones. It was found that sole bone loss would exponentially decrease the effective Young's moduli of cancellous bones, microarchitecture plays a dominant role in defining the anisotropic characteristics of bones such as the longitudinal superiority; and change of tissue property seems having a slight and linear influence on the effective Young's moduli of cancellous bones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasmon Ag and co-catalyst CoxP decorated mesoporous graphite carbon nitride nanosheet assemblies have been synthesized via a template-calcination and ball milling strategy combined with photoreduction. The obtained composites are characterized by x-ray diffraction, Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The results show that the sample assembly with mesoporous structure has specific surface area of 50.4 m2 g−1, pore size of 11.3 nm and pore volume of 0.21 cm3 g−1. The Ag and CoxP nanoparticles are decorated on the surface of graphite carbon nitride uniformly. Under solar light irradiation, the photocatalytic degradation rate of ceftazidime for the prepared sample assembly is up to ∼92%, and the photocatalytic reaction rate constant is about 10 times higher than that of bare graphite carbon nitride. Moreover, the sample assembly also exhibits a solar-driven photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of 96.66 μmol g−1 h−1. It can attributed to the surface plasmon resonance effect of Ag nanoparticles and CoxP co-catalyst promoting the spatial charge separation and the mesoporous structure providing more surface active sites and favoring mass transfer. This special structure offers new insights for fabricating other high-performance photocatalysts with high spatial charge separation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel Fe0/MnO x /BiVO 4 ternary assembly photocatalyst is prepared. • It narrows the bandgap and extends the photoresponse to visible-NIR region. • It exhibits excellent visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance. • It is due to synergistic effect of photocatalytic coupling Fenton reaction. • The co-catalysts of Fe0 and MnO x promote the spatial charge separation. Novel nano-zero-valent iron (Fe0)/MnO x /BiVO 4 ternary magnetic assemblies are fabricated through hydrothermal and photo-deposition strategy. The assemblies are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Fe0 as a reduction cocatalyst are deposited on surface of monoclinic BiVO 4 decahedron supersturcture. Meanwhile, MnO x as an oxidation cocatalyst is selectively anchored on oxidative {110} facet of BiVO 4 by photodeposition. The photogenerated electrons and holes can be transmitted to Fe0 and MnO x , respectively, which favors the spatial charge separation. The adjunction of Fe0 significantly enhances light absorption, and forms a photocatalysis-Fenton coupling system simultaneously. The assemblies with narrow band gap of 2.10 eV display an exceptional photocatalytic activity, and the visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation ratio of 2,4-dichlorophenol and Bisphenol A are up to 95.4 and 91.4%, respectively, which are several times higher than that of pristine BiVO 4. This is ascribed to the selective decoration of Fe0 and MnOx favoring the spatial charge separation, and the photocatalysis-Fenton coupling system enhancing degradation. Moreover, the superior magnetic property due to Fe0 decoration realizes magnetic separation of catalysts, which is favorable in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Plasma Ag/CuInS 2 /BiVO 4 core–shell decahedral S-scheme heterojunction is fabricated. • It shows excellent visible-light-driven photocatalytic and photothermal performance. • The core–shell interface and S-scheme heterojunction favors charge separation. • The SPR effect of Ag particles extends light response range and photothermal effect. Ternary plasmon Ag/CuInS 2 /BiVO 4 S-scheme core–shell heterostructures with decahedral morphology are synthesized by hydrothermal, solvothermal and photodeposition strategies. The combination of them increases the specific surface area and provides adequate surface-active spots for the photocatalytic reaction. Under visible light irradiation, the photocatalytic degradation rate of plasmon Ag/CuInS 2 /BiVO 4 for Bisphenol A in water is up to 98.8% and a hydrogen yield of 6.493 mmol h−1 which is several times higher than that of any pristine ones. The quantum efficiency at 420 nm light was 11.3%. Meanwhile, it also exhibits a strong inhibitory effect for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in water due to the unique broad-spectrum bactericidal effect of Ag nanoparticles and the bactericidal effect of reactive oxygen radicals. The robust photocatalytic performance can be credited to the particular S-scheme core–shell heterojunction favoring spatial charge separation, the surface plasmon resonance of Ag nanoparticles extending long wavelength light response and obvious photothermal effect. This study presents a new tactic for manufacturing efficient S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts for solar energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ni/ZnIn 2 S 4 nanosheet assembly with sulfur vacancy and Schottky junction (Ni/DZIS) is fabricated and shows much better the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate without any noble metal cocatalysts. The improved photocatalytic performance is mainly attributed to the synergism of sulfur vacancy and Schottky junction accelerating the photogenerated charge transfer and thus inhibiting the charge recombination. [Display omitted] • Fabrication of Ni/ZnIn 2 S 4 nanosheet assembly with sulfur vacancy and Schottky junction (Ni/DZIS) through facile ethanediol-assisted solvothermal method. • The location of Ni at the hollow site of three S atoms next to sulfur vacancy on the ZnIn 2 S 4 (0 0 6) face. • The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of Ni/DZIS up to 703 μmol g−1h−1 without any noble metal cocatalysts. Surface and interface engineering play vital roles on improving the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Herein, Ni/ZnIn 2 S 4 nanosheet assembly with sulfur vacancy and Schottky junction (Ni/DZIS) is fabricated through facile ethanediol-assisted solvothermal method. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation reveals that the Ni is absorbed at the hollow site of three S atoms next to sulfur vacancy on the ZnIn 2 S 4 (0 0 6) face due to the formation of sulfur vacancy. The resultant Ni/DZIS Schottky junction exhibits high photocatalytic H 2 evolution rate of 703 μmol g−1h−1 without any noble metal cocatalysts, which is 2.6 times higher than that of pristine ZnIn 2 S 4 nanosheets. The improved photocatalytic performance is mainly attributed to the synergism of sulfur vacancy and Schottky junction accelerating the photogenerated charge transfer and thus inhibiting the charge recombination. Moreover, the photocatalytic performance of Ni/DZIS nearly keeps constant even after six recycles, indicating the high stability and potential applications in field of energy. This work provides a convenient strategy for constructing efficient defective heterojunction assembly photocatalysts via surface and interface engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Metabolomics provides new insights into disease pathogenesis and biomarker discovery. Samples from large-scale untargeted metabolomics studies are typically analyzed using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry platform in several batches. Batch effects that are caused by non-biological systematic biases are unavoidable in large-scale metabolomics studies, even with properly designed experiments. The statistical analysis of large-scale metabolomics data without managing batch effects will yield misleading results. In this study, we propose a novel algorithm, called WaveICA, which is based on the wavelet transform method with independent component analysis, as the threshold processing method to capture and remove batch effects for large-scale metabolomics data. The WaveICA method uses the time trend of samples over the injection order, decomposes the original data into multi-scale data with different features, extracts and removes the batch effect information in multi-scale data, and obtains clean data. The WaveICA method was tested on real metabolomics data. After applying the WaveICA method, scattered quality control samples (QCS) and subject samples in a PCA score plot of the original data were closely clustered, respectively. The average Pearson correlation coefficients for all peaks of the QCS increased from 0.872 to 0.972. Additionally, WaveICA significantly improved the classification accuracy for metabolomics data. The method was compared with three representative methods, and outperformed all of them. To conclude, WaveICA can efficiently remove batch effects while revealing more biological information. This method can be used in large-scale untargeted metabolomics studies to preprocess raw metabolomics data. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Proposing a novel method to remove batch effects for metabolomics data. • The proposed method could efficiently remove batch effects. • The proposed method could reveal more biological information. • The proposed method outperformed other representative methods. • Providing an R package to easily implement this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesoporous g-C 3 N 4 /Zn–Ti layered double hydroxide (LDH)-laminated van der Waals heterojunction nanosheets were prepared by a facile one-step in situ hydrothermal method. Due to the strong electrostatic interactions between the positively charged Zn–Ti LDH and negatively charged g-C 3 N 4 nanocrystal, a laminated van der Waals heterostructure was successfully formed between Zn–Ti LDH and g-C 3 N 4. The mesoporous g-C 3 N 4 /Zn–Ti LDH-laminated van der Waals heterojunction, which had a narrow bandgap of 2.41 eV extended the photoresponse to the visible light region. The obtained heterojunctions showed excellent visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance for the complete removal of ceftriaxone sodium (up to ∼97%) and a high hydrogen production rate (∼161.87 μmol h−1 g−1). This was mainly attributed to the formation of the laminated van der Waals heterojunctions, which favoured charge separation and the absorption of visible light, and the mesoporous structure, which provided more surface active sites. This facile strategy for preparing mesoporous g-C 3 N 4 /Zn–Ti LDH-laminated van der Waals heterojunctions offers new insights for the fabrication of high-performance van der Waals heterojunction photocatalytic materials. Mesoporous g-C 3 N 4 /Zn–Ti LDH Laminated Van der Waals Heterojunctions Nanosheets Photocatalysts are successfully prepared by in-situ hydrothermal method, due to the strong electrostatic interaction between positively charged Zn–Ti LDH and negatively charged g-C 3 N 4 nanocrystals, which shows excellent visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance because of the van der Waals heterojunctions favoring spatial charge separation. Image 1 • Mesoporous g-C 3 N 4 /Zn–Ti LDH van der Waals heterojunctions nanosheets are prepared. • It extends the photoresponse to visible light region. • It exhibits excellent visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance. • It is due to the van der Waals heterojunctions favoring spatial charge separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract Ag-TiO 2−x (B)/g-C 3 N 4 ternary heterojunctions photocatalysts are fabricated by hydrothermal-calcination, photo-deposition procedure, and followed by in-situ solid-state chemical reduction procedure. As-obtained photocatalysts are consisted with heterojunctions between 2D g-C 3 N 4 sheets and 1D TiO 2 (B) single-crystalline nanorods. The band gap of Ag-TiO 2−x (B)/g-C 3 N 4 ternary heterojunctions photocatalysts is reduced to ∼2.23 eV due to plasma Ag and surface engineering. Under visible light irradiation, it has an optimal photocatalytic property for the reduction of Cr6+ (95%) and degradation of NH 4 + (93%). The apparent reaction rate constants (k) of ternary heterojunctions photocatalysts for NH 4 + and Cr6+ are 25 and 12 folds higher than that of original TiO 2 (B). Furthermore, Ag-TiO 2−x (B)/g-C 3 N 4 also has excellent hydrogen production efficiency, which is up to 410 µmol h−1 g−1. This enhancement can be attributed to the unique heterojunction formed by 1D single-crystalline TiO 2 (B) nanorods and 2D g-C 3 N 4 sheets, surface plasma resonance effect of plasma Ag nanoparticle, and surface engineering. A possible photocatalytic mechanism is also proposed by analysizing the XPS valence-band spectra and the Mott-Schottky. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]