Interfacial Engineering of a Z-Scheme Bi2O2S/NiTiO3 Heterojunction Photoanode for the Degradation of Sulfamethoxazole in Water

Kehinde D. Jayeola; Dimpo S. Sipuka; Tsholofelo I. Sebokolodi; Jonathan O. Babalola; Minghua Zhou; Frank Marsken; Omotayo A. Arotiba

doi:10.1021/acsami.4c20102

Interfacial Engineering of a Z-Scheme Bi₂O₂S/NiTiO₃ Heterojunction Photoanode for the Degradation of Sulfamethoxazole in Water

Kehinde D. Jayeola
, Dimpo S. Sipuka
, Tsholofelo I. Sebokolodi
, Jonathan O. Babalola
, Minghua Zhou
, Frank Marsken
, Omotayo A. Arotiba

University of Johannesburg
University of Ibadan
Bowen University
Nankai University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

16 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

To develop a semiconductor interface with enhanced spatial separation of carriers under visible light irradiation for the photoelectrochemical (PEC) oxidation process, we explored the fabrication of a Bi₂O₂S/NiTiO₃ heterojunction photoanode for the removal of sulfamethoxazole in water. The Bi₂O₂S/NiTiO₃ photoanode was synthesized via an in situ hydrothermal process, and it exhibited better light absorption and charge separation, as well as a reduced rate of recombination of photoexcited charge species compared to pristine Bi₂O₂S and NiTiO_3. The improved photoelectrocatalytic performance was attributed to the synergistic interaction between Bi₂O₂S and NiTiO₃ and the presence of an S-O bond at the heterojunction interface, thus resulting in Z-scheme heterojunction formation. Various characterization methods such as XPS, UV-DRS, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, photoluminescence, FESEM, TEM, and photocurrent response measurements were explored to explain the optical and electrochemical properties of the semiconductor heterojunction. The PEC degradation process was optimized, demonstrating a degradation efficiency removal of 80% for 5 mg/L sulfamethoxazole in water, with a TOC removal of 45.5%. A Z-scheme heterojunction formation mechanism was proposed to explain the enhanced photoelectrocatalytic activity of the photoanode. This work generally contributes to the development of efficient and sustainable photoanodes for environmental remediation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1385-1398
Number of pages	14
Journal	ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Volume	17
Issue number	1
Early online date	5 Dec 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.4c20102
Publication status	Published - 8 Jan 2025

Funding

We thank the Centre for Nanomaterials Science Research, University of Johannesburg, South Africa, for financial support. We also acknowledge financial support from the IRG - China/South Africa Research Cooperation Programme Grant Unique Number 132793 and the National Key R&D Program International Cooperation Project of China (2021YFE0106500). O.A.A. is grateful to Prof. S. O. Oluwafemi for granting access to his research instrument for time-resolved photoluminescence decay spectral measurements. We thank the Centre for Nanomaterials Science Research, University of Johannesburg, South Africa, for financial support. We also acknowledge financial support from the IRG \u2013 China/South Africa Research Cooperation Programme Grant Unique Number 132793 and the National Key R&D Program International Cooperation Project of China (2021YFE0106500). O.A.A. is grateful to Prof. S. O. Oluwafemi for granting access to his research instrument for time-resolved photoluminescence decay spectral measurements.

Keywords

BiOS
heterojunction photoanode
NiTiO
photoelectrocatalytic oxidation
sulfamethoxazole
Z-scheme

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Materials Science

Access to Document

10.1021/acsami.4c20102Licence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Interfacial Engineering of a Z-Scheme Bi2O2S/NiTiO3 Heterojunction Photoanode for the Degradation of Sulfamethoxazole in Water",

abstract = "To develop a semiconductor interface with enhanced spatial separation of carriers under visible light irradiation for the photoelectrochemical (PEC) oxidation process, we explored the fabrication of a Bi2O2S/NiTiO3 heterojunction photoanode for the removal of sulfamethoxazole in water. The Bi2O2S/NiTiO3 photoanode was synthesized via an in situ hydrothermal process, and it exhibited better light absorption and charge separation, as well as a reduced rate of recombination of photoexcited charge species compared to pristine Bi2O2S and NiTiO3. The improved photoelectrocatalytic performance was attributed to the synergistic interaction between Bi2O2S and NiTiO3 and the presence of an S-O bond at the heterojunction interface, thus resulting in Z-scheme heterojunction formation. Various characterization methods such as XPS, UV-DRS, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, photoluminescence, FESEM, TEM, and photocurrent response measurements were explored to explain the optical and electrochemical properties of the semiconductor heterojunction. The PEC degradation process was optimized, demonstrating a degradation efficiency removal of 80\% for 5 mg/L sulfamethoxazole in water, with a TOC removal of 45.5\%. A Z-scheme heterojunction formation mechanism was proposed to explain the enhanced photoelectrocatalytic activity of the photoanode. This work generally contributes to the development of efficient and sustainable photoanodes for environmental remediation.",

keywords = "BiOS, heterojunction photoanode, NiTiO, photoelectrocatalytic oxidation, sulfamethoxazole, Z-scheme",

author = "Jayeola, \{Kehinde D.\} and Sipuka, \{Dimpo S.\} and Sebokolodi, \{Tsholofelo I.\} and Babalola, \{Jonathan O.\} and Minghua Zhou and Frank Marsken and Arotiba, \{Omotayo A.\}",

year = "2025",

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T1 - Interfacial Engineering of a Z-Scheme Bi2O2S/NiTiO3 Heterojunction Photoanode for the Degradation of Sulfamethoxazole in Water

AU - Jayeola, Kehinde D.

AU - Sipuka, Dimpo S.

AU - Sebokolodi, Tsholofelo I.

AU - Babalola, Jonathan O.

AU - Zhou, Minghua

AU - Marsken, Frank

AU - Arotiba, Omotayo A.

PY - 2025/1/8

Y1 - 2025/1/8

N2 - To develop a semiconductor interface with enhanced spatial separation of carriers under visible light irradiation for the photoelectrochemical (PEC) oxidation process, we explored the fabrication of a Bi2O2S/NiTiO3 heterojunction photoanode for the removal of sulfamethoxazole in water. The Bi2O2S/NiTiO3 photoanode was synthesized via an in situ hydrothermal process, and it exhibited better light absorption and charge separation, as well as a reduced rate of recombination of photoexcited charge species compared to pristine Bi2O2S and NiTiO3. The improved photoelectrocatalytic performance was attributed to the synergistic interaction between Bi2O2S and NiTiO3 and the presence of an S-O bond at the heterojunction interface, thus resulting in Z-scheme heterojunction formation. Various characterization methods such as XPS, UV-DRS, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, photoluminescence, FESEM, TEM, and photocurrent response measurements were explored to explain the optical and electrochemical properties of the semiconductor heterojunction. The PEC degradation process was optimized, demonstrating a degradation efficiency removal of 80% for 5 mg/L sulfamethoxazole in water, with a TOC removal of 45.5%. A Z-scheme heterojunction formation mechanism was proposed to explain the enhanced photoelectrocatalytic activity of the photoanode. This work generally contributes to the development of efficient and sustainable photoanodes for environmental remediation.

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