Work

In situ construction of an s-scheme Bi2MoO6/Bi2WO6 heterojunction with dynamic oxygen vacancies for synergistic and efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: In photocatalytic CO2 reduction, it remains challenging to simultaneously achieve efficient separation of photogenerated carriers, preservation of strong redox capability, and surface activation of CO2, which constitutes a key bottleneck limiting the reaction efficiency. In this work, a Bi2MoO6/Bi2WO6 S-scheme heterojunction with intimate interfacial contact and oxygen vacancies was constructed via in situ solvothermal growth to synergistically modulate interfacial charge migration and surface reaction processes. The interfacial charge redistribution upon contact of the two phases establishes a built-in electric field that drives the selective recombination of low-energy carriers, thereby retaining strongly reductive electrons on the Bi2WO6 side and strongly oxidative holes on the Bi2MoO6 side. Meanwhile, oxygen vacancies act as electron trapping and CO2 adsorption/activation sites, facilitating the formation of key carbon-containing intermediates. In situ spectroscopy, ultrafast carrier dynamics, and theoretical calculations collectively verify the synergistic interplay between S-scheme charge transfer and defect site activation. The optimized 5BWB achieves a CO production rate of 127.2 μmol·g−1·h−1, approximately 6.9 and 6.0 times higher than those of pure Bi2WO6 and Bi2MoO6, respectively, along with excellent cycling stability. This work demonstrates that the synergistic construction of an interfacial electric field and defective active sites is an effective strategy for reconciling charge separation, strong redox ability, and CO2 activation.

Source: Molecular Catalysis

DOI: 10.1016/j.mcat.2026.116328

Authors: Pengtao Rui, Kun Jiang, Rongxin Zhang, Xin Zhang, Yanfeng Zhang

Institution: Hebei Normal University

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Climate action

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,110