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Novel rose-like photocatalysts were constructed by 1D/2D La(OH)3/(BiO)2OHCl heterojunctions. The highly efficient photocatalytic degradation was boosted by the combined effects of rich oxygen vacancies and enhanced interfacial charge transfer.

The construction of a phase junction photocatalyst can significantly enhance the photocatalytic performance with high selectivity for CO2 reduction. In this study, an S-scheme junction Cd0.5Zn0.5S/CoWO4 semiconductor with the coupling of a twin crystal Cd0.5Zn0.5S homojunction and CoWO4 was designed through a hydrothermal method, which could convert CO2 to CO with high efficiency under visible-light illumination. Cd0.5Zn0.5S-10%CoWO4 exhibited the optimal performance and its CO yield and selectivity were up to 318.68 μmol·g-1 and 95.90%, respectively, which were 4.54 and 1.62 times higher than that of twin crystal Cd0.5Zn0.5S. Moreover, the Cd0.5Zn0.5S homojunction with a zinc-blende and wurtzite phase and the S-scheme phase junction of Cd0.5Zn0.5S/CoWO4 enhanced the property of CO2 adsorption and accelerated the detachment of photogenerated carriers. The combination of photogenerated holes in Cd0.5Zn0.5S and the electrons of CoWO4 can retain the reduction sites to improve photocatalytic performance. This study provides a neoteric concept and reference for the construction of the S-scheme phase junction.

Using ion doping to engineer sulfur vacancies over metal sulfides is an effective method to improve photocatalytic properties, such vacancies form the center of the electron-captured state to promote the separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers. In this research, Yb/Er co-doped bulk Cd0.5Zn0.5S (CZS) was fabricated by a one-step simple hydrothermal process, and used for evaluating the catalytic activity for aquatic hydrogen production under visible light irradiation. The results showed that the Cd0.5Zn0.5S:Yb(15%), Er obtained exhibited a higher efficient photocatalytic activity of hydrogen evolution, in which the efficiency of Cd0.5Zn0.5S:Yb(15%), Er (422.0 μmol g−1 h−1) was 2.7 times higher than that of bare Cd0.5Zn0.5S (154.7 μmol g−1 h−1). This can be attributed to the augmented active surface area, the broadened spectral absorption of visible light and the facilitation of the separated efficiency of the photogenerated carriers. This finding provides a simple way to activate the metal-chalcogenides with S-vacancies for optimizing the photocatalytic performance.

The foodborne pathogens have caused many life-threatening diseases. Herein, a new electrochemical platform was developed for detection, using 3D walking machine and enzyme-free toehold-mediated strand displacement. High-variable region of 16S rDNA fragment of Escherichia coli (E. coli) was used as the target to verify the approach. In presence of target, Exonuclease III (Exo III)-powered hairpin-loaded Au nanoparticles (hpDNA@AuNPs) was aroused, which emerged large amounts of 3D toehold-loaded AuNPs (toehold@AuNPs) walking machine. The "legs" of the walking machine hybridized with hairpin2 (HP2) tracks probe modified on surface of electrode and exposed toehold region of HP2 probe. The toehold-mediated strand displacement triggered rolling of AuNPs along the electrode, through the interaction of hairpin3-F

Bacterial infections have become a global public health problem. Rapid and sensitive bacterial detection is of great importance for human health. Among various sensor systems, fluorescence sensor is rapid, portable, multiplexed, and cost-efficient. Herein, we reviewed the current trends of fluorescent sensors for bacterial detection from three aspects (response materials, target and recognition way). The fluorescent materials have the advantages of high fluorescent strength, high stability, and good biocompatibility. They provide a new path for bacterial detection. Several recent fluorescent nanomaterials for bacterial detection, including semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), carbon dots (CDs), up-conversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and metal organic frameworks (MOFs), were introduced. Their optical properties and detection mechanisms were analyzed and compared. For different response targets in the detection process, we studied the fluorescence strategy using DNA, bacteria, and metabolites as the response target. In addition, we classified the recognition way between nanomaterial and target, including specific recognition methods based on aptamers, antibodies, bacteriophages, and non-specific recognition methods based on biological functional materials. The characteristics of different recognition methods were summarized. Finally, the weaknesses and future development of bacterial fluorescence sensor were discussed. This review provides new insights into the application of fluorescent sensing systems as an important tool for bacterial detection.

The construction of a phase junction photocatalyst can significantly enhance the photocatalytic performance with high selectivity for CO

The low-usage of solar energy and the sluggish separation efficiency of the photogenerated electrons/holes pairs are the obstacles in the practical application of photocatalysts. The integration of upconversion and Z-scheme heterojunction is expected to break the barriers to achieve the efficient charge separation and broaden near-infrared light absorption. Herein, an effective indirect Z scheme AgInS

The low-usage of solar energy and the sluggish separation efficiency of the photogenerated electrons/holes pairs are the obstacles in the practical application of photocatalysts. The integration of upconversion and Z-scheme heterojunction is expected to break the barriers to achieve the efficient charge separation and broaden near-infrared light absorption. Herein, an effective indirect Z scheme AgInS2/In2S3 heterostructure with carbon quantum dots (CQDs, as the electron conduction medium) and Lu3NbO7:Yb, Ho (as upconversion function) has been successfully synthesized. Consequently, the Lu3NbO7: Yb, Ho/CQDs/AgInS2/In2S3 heterostructure exhibited superior photocatalytic activities for Cr(VI) reduction and H2O2 production, reducing 99.9% of Cr(VI)(20 ppm, 15 min) and 78.5% of Cr(VI) (40 ppm, 30 min) with visible light irradiation as well as 94.0% of Cr(VI) (20 ppm, 39 min) under NIR light irradiation. Simultaneously, the heterostructure could generate 902.9 μM H2O2 for 5 h under visible light irradiation. The intensive photocatalytic properties could primarily be attributed to the boosted light absorption capacity, the improved solar-to-energy conversion by the remarkable upconversion capacity of Lu3NbO7: Yb, Ho/CQDs and the faster charge transfer through a Z-schematic pathway. This work is anticipated to open a novel “window” for designing the efficient photocatalysts by coupling of Lu3NbO7: Yb, Ho and CQDs.

Constructing organic-inorganic semiconductor heterojunctions is an efficient way to inhibit the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers and enhance photocatalytic performance of semiconductor. Herein, a novel heterojunction antimony sulfide-perylene diimides (Sb2S3-PDI) heterojunction has been fabricated through a facile hydrothermal method. Compared with bare Sb2S3 and PDI, the Sb2S3-PDI hybrid has showed significantly superior activity in photocatalytic reduction of Cr (VI). The superior photocatalytic performance of Sb2S3-PDI hybrid is due to the formation of type-I heterojunction, which leads to a more efficient separation and migration of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. This work is expected to promote continued interest in the construction of organic-inorganic semiconductor composites with enhanced photocatalytic performance.