Strategic Core-Shell Integration for Advancing Z-Scheme Heterojunctions: Interface-Engineered ZnInS/AgWO@Ag Ternary Architecture for Enhanced Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic H Production and Pollutant Degradation.

The spatial inhomogeneity of interfacial modifications, despite conventional approaches like co-catalyst deposition and dopant incorporation, presents a critical bottleneck in achieving optimal charge carrier dynamics and sustained photocatalytic performance at semiconductor heterojunctions. To address this challenge, this study introduces a novel approach by encapsulating the wide-bandgap semiconductor AgWO (AWO) in a particulate shell of plasmonic hot spots (metallic Ag), forming a well-defined interface that facilitates consistent charge transfer and enhances photocatalytic efficiency. The engineered AgWO@Ag (AWO@Ag) is strategically integrated with ZnInS (ZIS) nanosheets to design core-shell integrated Z-scheme heterojunction. The optimized integration of AWO@Ag (12.5%) over ZIS nanosheets demonstrates a remarkable hydrogen generation performance, achieving 3142 µmol hg, surpassing the performance of pure ZnInS (1311 µmol hg). Through rational interface design with strong redox abilities, the system achieves an impressive methyl orange photodegradation efficiency of 97.16% within 60 min. Additionally, it exhibits photoanodic currents of 3.98 mA cm at 2.2 V versus RHE in a neutral electrolytic medium, demonstrating enhanced water oxidation capability facilitated by AWO@Ag integration. The system's exceptional performance across hydrogen generation, dye degradation, and water oxidation, validates that this advanced structural design enables stable and sustained photocatalytic performance through its multifunctional properties.