Ag/Ag2S plasmonic heterostructure promotes piezoelectric photocatalytic activity of BiFeO3 nanofibers for degradation of ciprofloxacin and energy conversion

Piezoelectric effect, plasma effect and semiconductor heterostructure are important strategies for enhanced photocatalytic performance. Herein, we developed a novel heterostructure piezoelectric photocatalyst, Ag/Ag2S/BiFeO3 (AAS/BFO), for photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin from water. Experimental results verified the enhancement of combining heterostructure piezoelectric polarization effect, which promotes efficient migration and separation of photogenerated carriers due to the localized surface plasmon resonance effect of Ag nanoparticles. Additionally, the introduction of Ag2S constructs a new heterostructure, that enhances the electron transport rate and improves the separation efficiency on electron-hole pairs. Under ultrasonic stimulation and visible light irradiation, the degradation efficiencies of 15 %-AAS/BFO towards ciprofloxacin, methyl orange and methylene blue are significantly enhanced compared to pure BFO fibers. The demonstrated AAS/BFO material based on the synergistic piezoelectric effect and plasmon heterostructure shows potential in efficient organic pollutants water treatment and transforming mechanical energy into chemical energy.