Visible-Light-Driven Inactivation of Bacteria and H₂ Generation Catalyzed by Oxygen-Vacancy-Rich...

Z-scheme heterostructure-based photocatalysts consist of a reduction photocatalyst and an oxidation photocatalyst, enabling them to possess a high capacity for both reduction and oxidation. However, the coupling reaction between photocatalytic H₂ generation through water reduction and sterilization using Z-scheme systems has been rarely reported. Herein, 1D W₁₈O₄₉ nanowires embedded over 2D g-C₃N₄ nanosheets are well-constructed as an integrated Z-scheme heterojunction. Experimental results and density functional theory calculations not only demonstrate the achievement of efficient interfacial charge separation and transport, leading to prolonged lifetime of photogenerated charge carriers, but also directly confirm the mechanism of Z-scheme charge transfer. As expected, the optimized W₁₈O₄₉/g-C₃N₄ nanostructure exhibits superior photocatalytic sterilization activity against Staphylococcus aureus as well as excellent H₂ generation performance under visible-light irradiation (λ ≥ 420 nm). Due to its nontoxic nature, W₁₈O₄₉/g-C₃N₄ holds great potential in eradicating bacterial infections in living organisms.