Interfacial C-O covalent bonds improving the piezo-assisted photocatalytic performance of Bi4Ti3O12@Carbon Schottky heterojunction

Rational design of piezo-assisted photocatalytic systems for simultaneously efficient ultilization of solar and mechanical energy is promising but still challenging. In this work, a novel Bi3Ti4O12@C (BTO@C) Schottky heterojunction with high piezo-assisted photocatalytic performance is rationaly designed, and the degradation reaction rate constant k for RhB reached 0.092 min−1 in 30 min. Experimental results and density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that C-layer is tightly coated on the surface of BTO. Furthermore, C-O covalent bonds, which act as electron transfer channels, are formed at the interface of BTO and C-layer. Meanwhile, the presence of piezoelectric potential field of BTO@C under piezo-assisted photocatalytic conditions further promotes the transfer of photogenerated electrons from BTO to C-layer, which synergistically contributes to the performance enhancement. This work provides a new idea for the design and development of efficient piezo-assisted photocatalytic materials.