Constructing a 3D Bi₂WO₆/ZnIn₂S₄ direct Z-scheme heterostructure for improved photocatalytic CO₂ reduction...

Developing efficient heterojunction photocatalysts with enhanced charge transfer and reduced recombination rates of photogenerated carriers is crucial for harnessing solar energy in the photocatalytic CO₂ reduction into renewable fuels. This study employed electrostatic self-assembly techniques to construct a 3D Bi₂WO₆/ZnIn₂S₄ direct Z-scheme heterojunctions. The unique 3D structure provided abundant active sites and facilitated CO₂ adsorption. Moreover, the optimized Bi₂WO₆/ZnIn₂S₄ composite demonstrated an impressive CH₄ yield of 19.54 μmol g^-1 under 4 h of simulated sunlight irradiation, which was about 8.73 and 16.30-fold higher than pure ZnIn₂S₄ and Bi₂WO₆. The observed enhancements in photocatalytic performance are attributed to forming a direct Z-scheme heterojunction, which effectively promotes charge transport and migration. This research introduces a novel strategy for constructing photocatalysts through the synergistic effect of morphological interface modifications.