Novel Ag2O nanoparticles modified MoS2 nanoflowers for piezoelectric-assisted full solar spectrum photocatalysis.

Graphical abstract In this work, we developed a piezoelectric promoted full solar spectrum photocatalytic system by assembling full solar response Ag 2 O NPs on piezoelectric MoS 2 NFs. Abstract The separation of photoinduced electrons and holes can enhance the photocatalytic properties of photocatalysts. A piezoelectric field is created inside piezoelectric materials, such as ZnO and MoS 2 , by applying strain. The electrons and holes become separated under the driving force of the piezoelectric field. Here, we propose combining piezoelectric MoS 2 nanoflowers (NFs) and full solar response Ag 2 O nanoparticles (NPs) to form a MoS 2 @Ag 2 O heterostructure and achieve high efficiency full solar (UV, visible, and near-infrared) photocatalysis. Under both full solar light and ultrasonic excitation, the MoS 2 @Ag 2 O heterostructures can rapidly degrade methyl orange (MO) in aqueous solution. A built-in electric field is formed by the spontaneous polarization potential of the MoS 2 NFs during this process, and an ultrasonic wave as a driving force can consecutively change the potential created by the piezoelectric effect. Under light irradiation, electrons and holes are generated in the Ag 2 O NPs, and the photogenerated electrons and holes with opposite signs in the two Ag 2 O NPs at the two surfaces of the MoS 2 NFs, can be separated respectively, along the spontaneous polarized direction. Therefore, the piezoelectric effect-induced enhancement of carrier separation under ultrasonic excitation can improve the full solar photocatalytic performance of the MoS 2 @Ag 2 O heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]