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Photocatalytic degradation of ethylene under visible light remains a challenge at the frontiers of chemistry. In this study, In 2 O 3 -Ag-Ag 3 PO 4 composite semiconductors with Z-scheme configuration were fabricated for the first time by in-situ synthesis of Ag 3 PO 4 on In 2 O 3 and subsequent photoreduction of Ag 3 PO 4 to generate nano silver. Their performances on photocatalytic degradation of ethylene under visible light illumination were investigated. Results demonstrated that both the activity of ethylene photocatalytic degradation and Ag 3 PO 4 photostabilization are considerably improved by making such a Z-scheme composite. According to the material design perspective and the application in the field of environmental pollutant remediation, the present research will provide potential value for further study on the removal of HC (Hydrocarbons) from the atmosphere and the stability concern of Ag 3 PO 4 and other materials with photocorrosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic oxidation of ethylene continues to be a challenge at the frontier of chemistry. In a previous report, a simple Ag3PO4 semiconductor material was shown to have strong photooxidative properties and efficiently oxidised water and decomposed organics in aqueous solution under visible-light illumination. Herein, its effects on the photo-oxidation of gaseous C2H4 were investigated by fabricating graphitic C3N4-Ag3PO4 composite semiconductors with direct Z-scheme configuration. It was found that both the ethylene photo-oxidative activity and the stability of Ag3PO4 are considerably improved by fabrication of Z-scheme composites. Moreover, stable C2H4 photo-oxidation activity could be obtained by treating the composite at 450 °C for 3 h after long-term operation. From the point of view of environmental pollutant cleanup, the present technique avoids the side reaction of oxidising water and will be valuable for further investigations on both Ag3PO4 and CH degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Designed and fabricated a CdS QDs/Bi 2 WO 6 monolayer S-scheme heterojunction. • Bi-S bonds deliberately introduced at the interface to regulate the charge transfer. • S-scheme heterojunction show excellent photoactivities for C 2 H 4 oxidation. The S-scheme heterojunction with unique photogenerated electrons and holes migration pathway, excellent separation efficiency of photogenerated carrier and high redox potential, has great potential in this field of photocatalytic oxidation of atmospheric C 2 H 4. However, optimising the transfer of photogenerated charge at the S-scheme heterostructure interface continues to a major challenge. Here, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were first conducted to predict an S-scheme heterojunction can be formed in the CdS quantum dots (QDs)/Bi 2 WO 6 monolayer system, and then CdS QDs/Bi 2 WO 6 monolayer S-scheme heterojunction were constructed by in-situ hydrothermal synthesis of CdS QDs onto Bi 2 WO 6 monolayer. Bi-S bonds are deliberately introduced at the interface to maximise the photogenerated charge transfer. As expected, the substantial enhancement of the photocatalytic degradation of ethylene and the photostabilization of CdS is demonstrated. The S-scheme band alignment and the connected Bi-S coordination introduced at the junction interface allow highly efficient charge separation and an effective interfacial charge migration path. This research provides a basis for understanding the design of materials for the removal of hydrocarbons in air and environmental pollutant remediation, and improving the stability of sulfide and other photocatalysts to photocorrosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]