Wang Zhongxiang, Tiukalova Elizaveta, Tai Youyi, Chi Miaofang, Nam Jin, Yin Yadong
Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
Mater Interfaces. 2024 Dec;1(1):68-78. doi: 10.53941/mi.2024.100005. Epub 2024 Nov 21.
Piezocatalysis, an emerging approach that harnesses mechanical energy to drive chemical reactions, has garnered significant attention due to its potential applications in diverse fields, particularly in environmental remediation. Its broader application, however, is often hindered by the low efficiency of existing piezocatalytic materials. Here, we report the synthesis of Mn-doped ZnS nanocrystals with improved piezoelectric properties using an emulsion-based colloidal assembly technique. Through well-controlled Mn doping, these nanocrystals demonstrate high piezocatalytic activity for degrading organic dyes under ultrasonic vibration. The optimal performance is achieved with 3% Mn doping, outperforming many existing piezocatalysts. Mechanistic studies reveal the generation of reactive oxygen species as the primary driving force for degradation. Notably, pre-excitation with UV light further boosts the piezocatalytic efficiency of these metal ion-doped ZnS nanocrystals by filling electron trap states, leading to improved overall performance. This research paves the way for developing high-performance piezocatalysts, expanding the potential of piezocatalysis for a wide range of applications.
压电催化是一种利用机械能驱动化学反应的新兴方法，因其在多个领域的潜在应用，特别是在环境修复方面，而受到了广泛关注。然而，其更广泛的应用常常受到现有压电催化材料效率低下的阻碍。在此，我们报道了一种基于乳液的胶体组装技术合成具有改进压电性能的锰掺杂硫化锌纳米晶体。通过精确控制锰掺杂，这些纳米晶体在超声振动下对降解有机染料表现出高压电催化活性。3%的锰掺杂实现了最佳性能，优于许多现有的压电催化剂。机理研究表明，活性氧的产生是降解的主要驱动力。值得注意的是，通过填充电子陷阱态，用紫外光进行预激发进一步提高了这些金属离子掺杂硫化锌纳米晶体的压电催化效率，从而改善了整体性能。这项研究为开发高性能压电催化剂铺平了道路，拓展了压电催化在广泛应用中的潜力。
