One-pot synthesis of 2D Ag/BiOCl/Bi2O2CO3 S-scheme heterojunction with oxygen vacancy for photocatalytic disinfection of Fusarium graminearum in vitro and in vivo

2D Ag/BiOCl/Bi2O2CO3 S-scheme heterojunction was prepared with oxygen vacancy (OVs) via one-pot hydrothermal method. The XRD and XPS analysis indicated the synthesized sample contained Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) instead of Ag ions. The SEM and HRTEM pictures showed that BiOCl/Bi2O2CO3 nanosheets were modified with AgNPs. Compared with AgNPs, BiOCl, and Bi2O2CO3, Ag/BiOCl/Bi2O2CO3 exhibited highly photocatalytic inactivation of pathogenic fungi (Fusarium graminearum) due to the wide light absorption range and S-scheme heterojunction structure, which improved the production and transfer of photogenerated carrier, and enhanced the separation of photogenerated e−/h+ pairs. In addition, the improved photocatalytic disinfection against Fusarium graminearum of Ag/BiOCl/Bi2O2CO3 was verified in Sedeveria Letizia plant. Furthermore, active species capture assay and ESR experiments disclosed the involvement of OVs, h+, ∙O2−, ∙OH, and –for Fusarium graminearum destruction during photocatalysis process. The S-scheme heterojunction was proved via oxygen vacancy, which was extensively beneficial to increase charge transmission and separation efficiency. Our work proposed Ag/BiOCl/Bi2O2CO3 was an efficient and ecological fungicide to inactive Fusarium graminearum in vitro and vivo for crop disease.