Construction of a Novel Solar-Light-Driven Bismuth Titanate/Barium Titanate Photocatalyst for Significantly Enhanced...

Photocatalytic denitrification is a promising approach for environmental remediation and solar energy conversion. In this study, a series of Bi₂Ti₂O₇/BaTiO₃ heterojunctions were synthesized via hydrothermal method, demonstrating superior photocatalytic NO removal efficiency (94%) compared to individual components. Comprehensive characterizations confirmed the formation of a tightly coupled heterojunction with enhanced visible-light absorption and charge separation. Optical and electrochemical analyses revealed that the composite facilitates efficient electron-hole separation (supported by reduced PL intensity and lower charge-transfer resistance in EIS) while retaining strong redox potentials, consistent with an S-scheme charge-transfer mechanism. Additionally, the increased surface area (BET) and porosity further promote reactant adsorption. Trapping experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) confirmed that e⁻, h⁺, and ·O₂⁻ are key reactive species. The synergistic effects of improved charge dynamics, optimized light utilization, and interfacial electron transfer collectively contribute to the enhanced photocatalytic performance.