Heterojunction configuration-specific photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange and methylene blue dyes using ZnO-based nanocomposites

The generation of the active species are influenced by the heterojunction configurations, of which the essence is that the different band alignments can results in the differences of interfacial charge transfer behaviors, and thus selective generation of the active species such as h_hν⁺, ·O₂^- and ·OH. Importantly, this work offers a fundamental understanding for specific photocatalytic degradation of the different heterojunction nanostructures towards the different organic dyes.