Construction of Ternary Heterostructured NaNbO<sub>3</sub>/Bi<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>/ Ag Nanorods with Synergistic Pyroelectric and Photocatalytic Effects for Enhanced Catalytic Performance

The removal of dyes and pathogens from contaminated water remains a significant challenge. In the present study, NaNbO 3 and NaNbO 3 /Bi 2 S 3 powders were prepared by a simple hydrothermal method, and then the noble metal Ag was successfully deposited on NaNbO 3 /Bi 2 S 3 by photoreduction to constitute the NaNbO 3 /Bi 2 S 3 /Ag ternary nanorods heterostructure. With continuous visible light irradiation and controlled temperature variation (25-55 °C), the monomeric NaNbO 3 could degrade 73.3% of Rhodamine B (RhB) and inactivated 46% of Salmonella while the ternary complex NaNbO 3 /Bi 2 S 3 /Ag showed a higher RhB degradation efficiency of 94.9% as well as an higher sterilization efficiency of 82%. In addition, after four replicate experiments, NaNbO 3 /Bi 2 S 3 /Ag still had a high degradation efficiency. Compared with NaNbO 3 monomer, NaNbO 3 /Bi 2 S 3 /Ag possessed stronger catalytic ability. The improvement of catalytic activity could be attributed to the efficient separation of pyroelectric and photocatalytic electrons and holes through the formation of NaNbO 3 /Bi 2 S 3 /Ag heterostructural nanorod. Keywords: Ternary heterostructures; Nanocomposites; Pyroelectricity; RhB solution degradation; Salmonella sterilization