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This review summarizes the recent research progress in phase segregation and instability in wide bandgap perovskites, and strategies are discussed and proposed to facilitate the development of their performance and stability.

The 2D VDW heterojunction MoC@NG@CN shows 13.4 times higher photocatalytic activity than CN. Abundant active sites, enhanced charge separation and numerous charge transport channels all contribute to the excellent photocatalytic performance.

By alternating the substituted position in the terminal end group, two asymmetric non-fullerene acceptor isomers are designed, showing a better device performance for the γ-substituted fashion.

The intermediate treatment (IT) strategy was developed to clothe the CsPbI3 perovskite in a robust phase-pure armor to boost its thermal stability.

The type II heterojunction MIL-68(In)@ZIS with hierarchical loose structure is successfully synthesized by in-situ growth. The optimized photocatalyst shows an excellent photocatalytic performance of 9.09 mmol g−1 h−1 with great stability.

This review summarizes the latest research progress on strategies for lead leakage control in perovskite solar cells to facilitate the future development of efficient, stable, and environmentally friendly perovskite photovoltaic devices.

New insights into the mechanism of ˙OH-initiated degradation and the kinetics of halogenated phenols onto (TiO2)n clusters with controllable dimensions have been provided for the first time.

This review analyses predominant pathways of non-radiative recombination losses in perovskite light-emitting diodes, followed by a summary of recent advances in reducing such losses as well as future directions toward the radiative limit.

The accumulation and self-aggregation of nanosheets have been effectively inhibited. The interlamellar cobalt hydroxide nanostructures ensure efficient electron transfer. MXene as a conductive substrate improves electron transfer significantly.

A series of NiCo MOFs is prepared through a simple method by introducing pyridine as modulator and 4-halogenpyridine as surface functional group. The MOFs show excellent electrocatalytic activity and stability for the glucose oxidation reaction.

A supramolecular organometallic drug complex (SOMDC) with H2O2 self-provision was proposed to intensify the intracellular autocatalysis for enhancing the CDT effect.

A high-throughput search for all-inorganic double perovskites by cationic mutation based on first-principles calculations.

CouMa responded to H2S within 3 minutes ratiometrically, based on an indol–coumarin fluorophore. The positively-charged probe accumulated in cytosol, and imaged NO-relevant H2S generation increment and depression in cytosol of living cells.

A trifunctional electrocatalyst was synthesized via a facile one-pot pyrolysis process. The synergistic effect of Fe2P and Co nanoparticles significantly enhances the electrocatalytic performances of fuel cells, Zn–air batteries and overall water splitting.

The Mott–Schottky heterojunction MoC@NG@ZIS exhibits an excellent photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance of 32.96 mmol g−1 h−1 with great stability. The enhanced charge and reaction kinetics explain the remarkable photocatalytic activity.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted extensive attention for the development of colorimetric detection methods due to their ease of modification and high density of active sites. However, most of the reported colorimetric sensors based on MOFs show only a single nanozyme activity. Herein, the bifunctional enzyme activities of a hexagonal prism Cu MOF with fumaric acid as the ligand (Cu FMA), namely laccase-like activity under alkaline conditions (pH = 8) and peroxidase-like activity under acidic conditions (pH = 4), were verified. The specificity of Cu FMA at different pH values may be due to the presence of the Cu+ active center introduced by the weak reducibility of FMA. At pH = 8, Cu+ active centers are beneficial for dissociating the H–O bonds of phenolic compounds for the laccase system. In contrast, the dissociation of H–O is weakened at pH = 4, which prompts the breaking of the O–O bonds of H2O2 as a Fenton-like reaction for the peroxidase system. Based on the dual enzyme activities, Cu FMA sensors exhibit outstanding detectability for epinephrine and glucose with linear ranges of 2.7–54.6 μM and 0.01–0.8 mM and detection limits of 1.1 μM and 2.28 × 10−7 M, respectively. The Cu FMA colorimetric sensor can be applied for detecting and measuring glucose and epinephrine in human serum samples. This work paves the way for Cu MOFs to be used as the basis for rational regulation of the activity of dual nanozymes and for multifunctional applications under completely independent conditions.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have developed rapidly and achieved power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of over 25% with diverse technical routes.

A compact imaging-based metasurface nanophotonic sensor consisting of graphene nanoribbon arrays is proposed. It provides a chemically specific technique to resolve absorption fingerprints without the need for spectrometry and frequency scanning.

Herein, to provide ideas for the design of highly selective CO2reduction materials, we introduce each step of the photocatalytic CO2reduction process and summarize how each step is adjusted to promote the selectivity of CO2reduction.

New insights into the ˙OH-initiated degradation mechanism, kinetics, and fate of hydroxymethyl nitrate have been investigated for the first time.

2D/3D heterojunction engineering has been regarded as a feasible method to improve the photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). A spacer molecule poses a huge influence on the structural and optoelectronic properties of 2D perovskites. A specific functional group embedded spacer molecule is highly expected to build an effective 2D capping layer for efficient, stable, and hysteresis-free PSCs. Here, a tailored spacer molecule, 4-hydroxy-phenylethylamine iodide (OH-PEAI), is developed for high-performance 2D/3D PSCs. A combined theoretical and experimental study suggests that OH-PEAI based 2D structure on the 3D surface significantly reduces defect density and mitigates nonradiative recombination. The target PSCs deliver an efficiency of 21.38% compared to 19.54% for the control device. A high open-circuit voltage (Voc) up to 1.234 V can be achieved with a Voc loss of only 0.376 V and the hysteresis can be totally eliminated. 2D/3D PSCs using a low-bandgap 3D perovskite can yield a high efficiency of 23.28%. The 2D layer also provides a robust interface that protects vulnerable 3D perovskite films from moisture attacks. As a result, the unencapsulated 2D/3D PSCs show excellent long-term stability retaining 93% of initial PCE in ambient air at 30% relative humidity for 480 h.

In this research, composite photocatalysts were found to have a superior photocatalytic performance. A simple hydrolytic method is used to synthesize the BiPO4/Bi4O5I2 composite, and this was confirmed by use of characterization methods. The oilfield pollutant of acrylamide was used to evaluate the photocatalytic activity. After ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis) light irradiation for 6 h, the BiPO4/Bi4O5I2 displayed an excellent photocatalytic performance which was better than using Bi4O5I2 and BiPO4 singly. The characterization data further demonstrated the remarkable photocatalytic activity of BiPO4/Bi4O5I2. The trapping experiments and ESR experiments verified the photocatalytic mechanism. The recycling experiments used the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) to investigate the stability and reusability of BiPO4/Bi4O5I2. This paper details a new approach for the synthesis of a BiPO4/Bi4O5I2 composite, which exhibited efficient photocatalytic activity, for use in the degradation of oilfield pollutants.

MXenes are two-dimensional nanomaterials, which can be constructed from different elements. The rich interlayer groups, surface groups, and the flexible layer spacing of MXenes make them ideal catalysts. Among these, Ti3C2Tx has gained particular attention as a photocatalyst for photocatalytic CO2 reduction reactions (CO2RR), hydrogen evolution reactions (HER), and photocatalytic degradation reactions. The structure of Ti3C2Tx, hydrophilic surface functional groups, and the Gibbs free energy for hydrogen adsorption lead to the excellent photocatalytic HER performance of this material. Numerous surface defects on Ti3C2Tx also provide plentiful CO2 adsorption sites for CO2RR. It is the structure of two-dimensional nanomaterials and their high-speed electron transport channels that enable their excellent catalytic oxidation activity. However, at present, there are still challenges that limit their further application, the most significant of which is the material stability. In order to overcome this, the synthetic routes to prepare these photocatalysts need to be adapted.

3D printing has attracted considerable attention due to its rapid responsiveness, convenient operation, and high level of personalization. However, the continually increasing waste of printed polymers imposes a heavy burden on the environment, which contradicts the circular economy concept. Herein, a sustainable 3D printing strategy is demonstrated by developing a disulfide-based polyurethane composite and printing via the direct ink writing (DIW) technique. Dynamic disulfide bonds provide the composite with a responsive covalent adaptable network, allowing the material to be printable, repairable and recyclable. The incorporation of hydroxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-OH) enhances the photothermal conversion property to enable precise local heating for repairing. After the sample is cut in half and repaired, the mechanical properties recover to 86.3% after three times NIR laser-triggered in-site repair. Overall, the printed parts feature outstanding recyclability, in situ repairable capability and the ability of contactless removal for supporting structures. This 3D printing strategy possesses great potential to address environmental challenges associated with the waste of 3D printed polymers.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials with structures having diverse features are promising for application in energy conversion and storage. A stronger layered orientation can guarantee fast charge transfer along 2D planes and contributes to enhancing the pseudocapacitive properties of the material. Here, we demonstrate a novel one-pot co-precipitation approach to synthesize a hybrid structure comprising a layered transition metal hydroxide (LTMH)/zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) (LTMH/ZIF) of ultrathin porous sheet-like nanostructures. The LTMH/ZIF hybrid structures were synthesized with Co2+ as the main metal source and Mn2+/Ni2+/Zn2+ as dopants. The ultrathin 2D topography can shorten the path of electron transfer, reduce the diffusion resistance of the electrolyte, and provide more active sites. Among the bimetallic LTMH/ZIF hybrids, α-CoMn0.05(OH)x/ZIF-67 displayed a specific capacitance of 689 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 in a three-electrode configuration. The as-assembled asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) (α-CoMn0.05(OH)x/ZIF-67//activated carbon (AC)) delivered an outstanding energy density of 79.1 W h kg−1 at a power density of 1350 W kg−1 and reached a high power density of 13 500 W kg−1 with the energy density maintained at 70.5 W h kg−1. The ASC also retained 96.2% of its initial capacity over 3500 cycles. Overall, the proposed strategy enables the preparation of 2D ultrathin LTMH/ZIF hybrid nanostructures, which have great prospects for diverse applications in energy storage.

Branched nanostructures represent a unique group of nanoarchitectures exhibiting an advantageous high surface area and excellent charge transport for energy conversion applications compared to their bulk counterparts. Especially, branched titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been reported as a promising photocatalyst in several applications. However, precise control of its nanostructures and crystal phases remains challenging. Normally, branched TiO2 nanostructures (BTNs) have been fabricated by a multi-step synthesis, and only a particular dimension is achieved. Herein, we present generic rules governing the structural evolution of BTNs from zero-dimensional (0D) to one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) structures by a facile one-pot hydrothermal synthesis with controlled isotropic and anisotropic crystal growth and symmetry breaking. Various dimensional BTNs with a controllable number of branches and crystal phases are obtained. In addition, these nanoarchitectures are directly grown on a conductive substrate and could be readily used as a photoelectrode. The dimension-dependent photocatalytic behaviors are carefully investigated in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. An optimized 1D nanostructure produces a photocurrent density of up to 0.87 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE. The excellent PEC performance could be attributed to the appropriate band alignment and the unique structure that is beneficial for charge transport and separation.

Despite the incredible progress of lead halide perovskite solar cells (LHPSCs), concerns remain regarding their potential impacts on the environment and human heath arising from their toxic and dissolvable lead content. Significant efforts have been devoted to searching lead-free halide perovskites over the past years. Among all these candidates, tin halide perovskites (THPs) have shown the most promise, where the efficiency of THP solar cells (THPSCs) has been progressing steadily. However, a considerable gap still exists between THPSCs and LHPSCs in terms of both efficiency and environmental stability. In this review, we first present a fundamental understanding of the origins of the inadequate efficiency and stability of THPSCs. Subsequently, a comprehensive and up-to-date overview focusing on the strategies addressing these issues facing THPSCs, including composition and dimension tuning, additive engineering and device engineering, is provided. Finally, we discuss the remaining challenges and give a perspective outlining the possible future directions for closing the gap between THPSCs and LHPSCs.

Pentanols as potential biofuels have attracted considerable interest, and thus it is of great importance to gain insights into their combustion and atmospheric chemistry. Herein, the kinetics and combustion mechanisms of 1-pentanol, 2-pentanol, and 3-pentanol triggered by hydroxyl radicals were explored at the CCSD(T)/CBS//M06-2X/6-311+G(d,p) level. Sixteen channels were taken into consideration followed by acquisition of energy barriers. The rate constants, estimated by the multi-structural variational transition state theory along with the small curvature tunneling correction, are in agreement with the experimental values within 267–373 K. The results indicate that the location of the hydroxyl group in three pentanols does not affect their reactivity toward OH radicals because their rate constants are close to each other. However, the locations of the hydroxyl group are significant in controlling product ratios in a wide temperature scope. The alkyl chain length and temperature are the key regulatory factors for lifetime of alcohols and are more obvious than the positions of functional groups in determining alcohol persistence. The fate and reactivity of hydroxyperoxy, hydroxyalkoxy, or alkyl intermediates were studied, and stable products are organic acids and aldehyde compounds. They are the precursors of secondary organic aerosols and photochemical smog that are harmful to the environment. This work provides a necessary reference for the modeling of pentanol combustion and evolution.

Monitoring labile Zn2+ homeostasis is of great importance for the study of physiological functions of Zn2+ in biological systems. Here we report a novel ratiometric fluorescent Zn2+ sensor, CPBT, which was constructed based on chelation-induced alteration of FRET efficiency. CPBT was readily cell membrane permeable and showed a slight preferential localization in the endoplasmic reticulum. With this sensor, 3D ratiometric Zn2+ imaging was first realized in the head of zebra fish larvae via Z-stack mode. CPBT could track labile Zn2+ in a large number of cells through ratiometric flow cytometric assay. More interestingly, both ratiometric fluorescence imaging and flow cytometric assay demonstrated that the labile Zn2+ level in MCF-7 cells (cisplatin-sensitive) decreased while that in SKOV3 cells (cisplatin-insensitive) increased after cisplatin treatment, indicating that Zn2+ may play an important role in cisplatin induced signaling pathways in these cancer cells., A Zn2+ sensor exhibiting 3D ratiometric imaging and flow cytometric ability was constructed based on the FRET mechanism, and cisplatin-induced endogenous labile Zn2+ fluctuations were monitored in real time.

Long-term stability is an essential requirement for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to be commercially viable. Heterojunctions built by low-dimensional and three-dimensional perovskites (1D/3D or 2D/3D) help to improve the stability of PSCs. However, the insulated organic cations of low-dimensional perovskite impede the transport of carriers, decreasing the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PSCs. Herein, we introduce an in situ cross-linking polymerizable propargylammonium (PA+) to the 3D perovskite film at surfaces and grain boundaries to form a 1D/3D perovskite heterostructure. This passivation strategy not only significantly improves the interfacial carrier transport but also releases residual tensile strain in perovskite films. As a result, the corresponding devices achieve a champion PCE of 21.19%, while maintaining 93% of their initial efficiency after 3055 h of continuous illumination under maximum power point (MPP) operating conditions.

Conical morphologies with sharp tips exhibit excellent optical absorption and electric field enhancement features. We have synthesized conical structured BiVO4 crystals with a smooth curved surface and sharp tips by a simple two-phase route. The samples possess the ability to expand the visible light absorption region and are suitable for photocatalytic water oxidation.

In this study, TiO2/Ag3PO4 composites based on anatase TiO2 nanocrystals with co-exposed {101}, {010}/{100}, {001} and [111]-facets and Ag3PO4 microcrystals with irregular and cubic-like polyhedron morphologies were successfully synthesized by combining hydrothermal and ion-exchange methods. The anatase TiO2 nanocrystals with different high-energy facets were controllably prepared via hydrothermal treatment of the exfoliated [Ti4O9]2−/[Ti2O5]2− nanosheet solutions at desired pH values. The Ag3PO4 microcrystal with different morphologies was prepared via the ion-exchange method in the presence of AgNO3 and NH4H2PO4 at room temperature, which was used as a substrate to load the as-prepared anatase TiO2 nanocrystals on its surface and to form TiO2/Ag3PO4 heterostructures. The apparent rate constant of the pH 3.5-TiO2/Ag3PO4 composite was the highest at 12.0 × 10−3 min−1, which was approximately 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 13.3, and 24.0 fold higher than that of pH 0.5-TiO2/Ag3PO4 (10.5 × 10−3 min−1), pH 7.5-TiO2/Ag3PO4 (10.2 × 10−3 min−1), pH 11.5-TiO2 (8.8 × 10−3 min−1), Ag3PO4 (7.7 × 10−3 min−1), blank sample (0.9 × 10−3 min−1), and the commercial TiO2 (0.5 × 10−3 min−1), respectively. The pH 3.5-TiO2/Ag3PO4 composite exhibited the highest visible-light photocatalytic activity which can be attributed to the synergistic effects of its heterostructure, relatively small crystal size, large specific surface area, good crystallinity, and co-exposed high-energy {001} and [111]-facets. The as-prepared TiO2/Ag3PO4 composites still exhibited good photocatalytic activity after three successive experimental runs, indicating that they had remarkable stability. This study provides a new way for the preparation of TiO2/Ag3PO4 composite semiconductor photocatalysts with high energy crystal surfaces and high photocatalytic activity.

The operation of a Li-ion battery involves a concerted sequence of mass and charge transport processes, which are underpinned by alternating dilation/contraction of the active electrode materials. Several Li-ion battery failure mechanisms can be directly traced to lattice-mismatch strain arising from local compositional heterogeneities. The mechanisms of chemo-mechanical coupling that effect phase separation and the resulting complex evolution of internal stress fields remain inadequately understood. This work employs X-ray microscopy techniques to image the evolution of composition and stress across individual bent V2O5 particles. Experimental findings show that lattice strain imposed by the deformation of an individual cathode particle profoundly modifies phase separation patterns, yielding striated Li-rich domains ensconced within a Li-poor matrix. Particle-level inhomogeneities compound across scales resulting in fracture and capacity fade. Coupled phase field modeling of the evolution of domains reveals that the observed patterns minimize the energetic costs incurred by the geometrically imposed strain gradients during lithiation of the material and illustrate that phase separation motifs depend sensitively on the particle geometry, dimensions, interfacial energetics, and lattice incommensurability. Sharp differences in phase separation patterns are observed between lithiation and delithiation. This work demonstrates the promise of strain-engineering and particle geometry to deterministically control phase separation motifs such as to minimize accumulated stresses and mitigate important degradation mechanisms.

Antimony(III) or Sb(III) contamination in surface waters poses a serious threat to the ecological system and human health, and green and cost-effective technologies are urgently needed to mitigate its toxic effects. We green synthesized a novel oxidative sorbent, referred to as Al2O3-supported Fe–Mn binary oxide nanoparticles (Fe–Mn@Al2O3), and investigated its removal effectiveness and dynamic quantitative removal mechanisms of Sb(III) at environmentally relevant levels from simulated surface water. Fe–Mn binary oxides (Fe–Mn) were successfully attached on the surface of Al2O3via intermolecular hydrogen bonding, resulting in the formation of Fe–Mn@Al2O3 with a larger specific surface area, greater oxidizing reactivity, and more sorption sites compared to Fe–Mn. The resulting composite is mainly composed of FeOOH, Fe2O3, MnO2, and Al2O3. Life cycle assessment (LCA) indicated that the Fe–Mn@Al2O3 synthesis met green chemistry principles. Fe–Mn@Al2O3 at a Fe : Al2O3 molar ratio of 1 : 2 displayed an enhanced Sb(III) sorption capacity of 272.2 mg g−1 at pH 6.4 within 48 h. Sorption kinetic data were adequately simulated with the pseudo second-order kinetic model and the intraparticle diffusion model, suggesting that the sorption kinetics were a combination of chemisorption and intraparticle diffusion. The Freundlich isotherm model outperformed the Langmuir model in simulating the sorption isotherm data, which aligns with the heterogeneous surface sorption sites of Fe–Mn@Al2O3. MnO2 in Fe–Mn@Al2O3 oxidized Sb(III) to Sb(V), whereas FeOOH and Al2O3 acted as adsorption sites towards Sb(III) and Sb(V). Most importantly, Fe–Mn@Al2O3 still maintained high sorption efficiencies towards Sb(III) after five consecutive regeneration cycles. The dynamic quantitative removal mechanisms were proposed thereafter. Upon equilibrium, 92.8% of Sb(III) was sorbed by Fe–Mn@Al2O3, and 94.9% of sorbed Sb(III) was oxidized to produce Sb(V) and Mn(II). 59.1% of the formed Sb(V) was adsorbed onto Fe-Mn@Al2O3 and 40.9% of Sb(V) was released into the solution. The new quantitative and mechanistic insights contribute to an improved understanding of the uptake of Sb(III) by Fe–Mn@Al2O3 in natural and engineered systems, and the results may guide further preparation and application of reactive adsorbents for removal of redox-active contaminants from water.

Ru(ii) complexes have been recognized as excellent anticancer candidates. However, the poor cell uptake of these complexes has been the major obstacle in improving their anticancer efficacy. Along with the development of the knowledge on the anticancer nature of the Ru(ii) complexes, several strategies have been designed to increase the cellular accumulation of these complexes. Among them, the light-triggered drug uptake approach is most promising. In this study, a bioactive Ru(ii)-polypyridyl complex Ru-1 is constructed via incorporating a modified phenanthroline ligand into the enlarged conjugate structure. The modulation of the ligand makes Ru-1 powerful in generating singlet oxygen and effective in photodynamic therapeutic activity. Moreover, the cell uptake is improved during this photodynamic process and induces further chemotherapeutic effect, which act synergistically to enhance its anticancer activity. The photoinduced synergistic cytotoxicity of Ru-1 towards cancer cells offers an effective way to sensitize the antitumor activity of Ru(ii) complexes.

The structural and thermodynamic properties of the (HNO3)(HONO)(H2O)n (n = 1–6) clusters have been investigated via density functional theory on the M06-2X/6-311+G(2d,p) level. Atoms in molecules (AIM) analysis, reduced density gradient (RDG) and natural bond orbital (NBO) were employed to investigate the non-covalent interactions of two acid hydrates, which show that these clusters are bonded with hydrogen bonds having diverse intensities. In addition, the thermodynamic data show that clusters are formed exothermically and non-spontaneously. The study of temperature effects on the isomer ordering suggests that the distribution of the isomers depends on the temperature. Moreover, the optical properties show that the isotropic mean polarizability and Rayleigh light scattering intensity have a linear relationship and second-order correlation with the cluster size, respectively. The higher evaporation rate (∼1010 s−1) implies that these clusters will evaporate rapidly once they are formed. Therefore, HONO cannot spontaneously form a stable cluster with HNO3 and water molecules in the atmosphere, which is unlike HCl, HOCl, or H2SO4. This study may provide insight into the role of HONO in the initial steps of new particle formation on the molecular scale, and and provide understanding on the properties of nitrogen-containing acid aerosol.

A novel difluoroboron fluorophore with an electron donor–acceptor conjugated structure was synthesized with 26.5% fluorescence quantum yield, 18 035 GM two-photon absorbing cross-section, and undetectable two-photon fluorescence, resulting in 25% 1O2 quantum yield. The unique optical behavior of CNFBBN enabled one-photon fluorescence imaging and two-photon phototherapy against HeLa cancer cells, irradiated at separate wavelengths.

Drug-based hyperbranched polymers have attracted broad interest from scientists due to their attractive and distinctive characteristics in cancer chemotherapy. However, the only use of the single-drug treatment modality could lead to low or unsatisfactory anticancer activity because of the limited treatment strategy and multidrug resistance of tumour cells. In this work, a novel dual drug-based hyperbranched polymer (DHBP) simultaneously containing methotrexate (MTX) and chlorambucil (Cb) was proposed to realize synergistic cancer chemotherapy. After modification with PEG, the obtained DHBP-g-PEG self-assembled into hyperbranched polymer micelles (HBPMs) in aqueous solution with a high drug loading capacity and stable drug transport. Notably, HBPMs with excellent controlled drug release in tumour cells exhibited an obviously superior synergistic effect and possessed significant therapeutic efficiency and in vitro anticancer activity, as compared to either the individual drug or mixture drug treatment group. All these results demonstrate that the unique advantage of HBPMs may have significant potential for application in the field of synergistic cancer chemotherapy.

In this work, the Bi2WO6 photocatalyst is first modified by sodium bentonite (SB) to give the SB/Bi2WO6 composite photocatalyst, prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. The compounds were characterized through X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the catalyst was evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B under visible light irradiation and bisphenol A under ultraviolet light irradiation, the SB/Bi2WO6 exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity compared to Bi2WO6. The remarkable photocatalytic activity of SB/Bi2WO6 was further confirmed by the photoluminescence spectra and photocurrent response. Furthermore, the recycling experiments confirmed the stability and reusability. The trapping experiments and the electron paramagnetic resonance spin-trap experiments measured the photocatalytic mechanism of SB/Bi2WO6 highlighting the main active species during the photocatalytic degradation of the pollutants. This paper offers a new approach for selecting carrier modified photocatalysts, and shows the degradation of oil field pollutants using this photocatalyst.

Linear conjugated polymers have potential as photocatalysts for hydrogen production from water but so far, most studies have involved non-scalable sacrificial reagents. Z-schemes comprising more than one semiconductor are a potential solution, but it is challenging to design these systems because multiple components must work together synergistically. Here, we show that a conjugated polymer photocatalyst for proton reduction can be coupled in a Z-scheme with an inorganic water oxidation photocatalyst to promote overall water splitting without any sacrificial reagents. First, a promising combination of an organic catalyst, an inorganic catalyst, and a redox mediator was identified by using high-throughput screening of a library of components. A Z-scheme system composed of P10 (homopolymer of dibenzo[b,d]thiophene sulfone)–Fe2+/Fe3+–BiVO4 was then constructed for overall water splitting under visible light irradiation. Transient absorption spectroscopy was used to assign timescales to the various steps in the photocatalytic process. While the overall solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of this first example is low, it provides proof of concept for other hybrid organic–inorganic Z-scheme architectures in the future.