A novel S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst, Yb6Te5O19.2/g-C3N4: synthesis, characterization, photocatalytic activity, and mechanism
Abstract The increasing reliance on fossil fuels has led to a surge in atmospheric CO₂, intensifying global warming, whereas water contamination by organic pollutants presents another pressing global issue. In response, we have developed Yb₆Te₅O₁₉.₂/g-C₃N₄ (YTO/GCN) composites as novel S-scheme phot...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04935-z |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849238789145231360 |
|---|---|
| author | Chiing-Chang Chen Chao-Wei Chen Janah Shaya Shuo-Yi Zhang Yu-Yun Lin Fu-Yu Liu Jia-Hao Lin Chung-Shin Lu |
| author_facet | Chiing-Chang Chen Chao-Wei Chen Janah Shaya Shuo-Yi Zhang Yu-Yun Lin Fu-Yu Liu Jia-Hao Lin Chung-Shin Lu |
| author_sort | Chiing-Chang Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The increasing reliance on fossil fuels has led to a surge in atmospheric CO₂, intensifying global warming, whereas water contamination by organic pollutants presents another pressing global issue. In response, we have developed Yb₆Te₅O₁₉.₂/g-C₃N₄ (YTO/GCN) composites as novel S-scheme photocatalysts that efficiently target the degradation of pollutants and CO₂ reduction. These composites were synthesized through a straightforward hydrothermal method and comprehensively characterized via XRD, SEM, TEM‒EDS, DRS, BET, PL, and XPS analyses. Compared with the individual YTO and GCN semiconductors, the YTO/GCN heterojunction demonstrated superior photocatalytic efficiency in both crystal violet (CV) degradation under visible-light irradiation and CO₂ photoreduction. The YTO-90%GCN composite achieved the highest CV degradation rate constant (0.043 h⁻¹), which surpassed those of YTO and GCN by 2.97 and 1.11 times, respectively. Furthermore, the YTO-90%GCN composite produced 0.449 µmol/g CH₄ from CO₂ reduction over 216 h, which was 1.07 and 9.78 times greater than that of YTO and GCN alone, respectively. Scavenger and ESR experiments were conducted to identify the active species involved in CV degradation and to elucidate the photocatalytic mechanism of the YTO/GCN composite. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b6b11b52d1bc4a3cb6896118e9dd5c66 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-b6b11b52d1bc4a3cb6896118e9dd5c662025-08-20T04:01:24ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115112310.1038/s41598-025-04935-zA novel S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst, Yb6Te5O19.2/g-C3N4: synthesis, characterization, photocatalytic activity, and mechanismChiing-Chang Chen0Chao-Wei Chen1Janah Shaya2Shuo-Yi Zhang3Yu-Yun Lin4Fu-Yu Liu5Jia-Hao Lin6Chung-Shin Lu7Department of Science Education and Application, National Taichung University of EducationDepartment of Science Education and Application, National Taichung University of EducationDepartment of Chemistry, Khalifa University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Science Education and Application, National Taichung University of EducationDepartment of Science Education and Application, National Taichung University of EducationDepartment of Science Education and Application, National Taichung University of EducationDepartment of Science Education and Application, National Taichung University of EducationDepartment of General Education, National Taichung University of Science and TechnologyAbstract The increasing reliance on fossil fuels has led to a surge in atmospheric CO₂, intensifying global warming, whereas water contamination by organic pollutants presents another pressing global issue. In response, we have developed Yb₆Te₅O₁₉.₂/g-C₃N₄ (YTO/GCN) composites as novel S-scheme photocatalysts that efficiently target the degradation of pollutants and CO₂ reduction. These composites were synthesized through a straightforward hydrothermal method and comprehensively characterized via XRD, SEM, TEM‒EDS, DRS, BET, PL, and XPS analyses. Compared with the individual YTO and GCN semiconductors, the YTO/GCN heterojunction demonstrated superior photocatalytic efficiency in both crystal violet (CV) degradation under visible-light irradiation and CO₂ photoreduction. The YTO-90%GCN composite achieved the highest CV degradation rate constant (0.043 h⁻¹), which surpassed those of YTO and GCN by 2.97 and 1.11 times, respectively. Furthermore, the YTO-90%GCN composite produced 0.449 µmol/g CH₄ from CO₂ reduction over 216 h, which was 1.07 and 9.78 times greater than that of YTO and GCN alone, respectively. Scavenger and ESR experiments were conducted to identify the active species involved in CV degradation and to elucidate the photocatalytic mechanism of the YTO/GCN composite.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04935-zYb6Te5O19.2g-C3N4PhotocatalysisCrystal VioletCO2 reduction |
| spellingShingle | Chiing-Chang Chen Chao-Wei Chen Janah Shaya Shuo-Yi Zhang Yu-Yun Lin Fu-Yu Liu Jia-Hao Lin Chung-Shin Lu A novel S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst, Yb6Te5O19.2/g-C3N4: synthesis, characterization, photocatalytic activity, and mechanism Scientific Reports Yb6Te5O19.2 g-C3N4 Photocatalysis Crystal Violet CO2 reduction |
| title | A novel S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst, Yb6Te5O19.2/g-C3N4: synthesis, characterization, photocatalytic activity, and mechanism |
| title_full | A novel S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst, Yb6Te5O19.2/g-C3N4: synthesis, characterization, photocatalytic activity, and mechanism |
| title_fullStr | A novel S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst, Yb6Te5O19.2/g-C3N4: synthesis, characterization, photocatalytic activity, and mechanism |
| title_full_unstemmed | A novel S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst, Yb6Te5O19.2/g-C3N4: synthesis, characterization, photocatalytic activity, and mechanism |
| title_short | A novel S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst, Yb6Te5O19.2/g-C3N4: synthesis, characterization, photocatalytic activity, and mechanism |
| title_sort | novel s scheme heterojunction photocatalyst yb6te5o19 2 g c3n4 synthesis characterization photocatalytic activity and mechanism |
| topic | Yb6Te5O19.2 g-C3N4 Photocatalysis Crystal Violet CO2 reduction |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04935-z |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chiingchangchen anovelsschemeheterojunctionphotocatalystyb6te5o192gc3n4synthesischaracterizationphotocatalyticactivityandmechanism AT chaoweichen anovelsschemeheterojunctionphotocatalystyb6te5o192gc3n4synthesischaracterizationphotocatalyticactivityandmechanism AT janahshaya anovelsschemeheterojunctionphotocatalystyb6te5o192gc3n4synthesischaracterizationphotocatalyticactivityandmechanism AT shuoyizhang anovelsschemeheterojunctionphotocatalystyb6te5o192gc3n4synthesischaracterizationphotocatalyticactivityandmechanism AT yuyunlin anovelsschemeheterojunctionphotocatalystyb6te5o192gc3n4synthesischaracterizationphotocatalyticactivityandmechanism AT fuyuliu anovelsschemeheterojunctionphotocatalystyb6te5o192gc3n4synthesischaracterizationphotocatalyticactivityandmechanism AT jiahaolin anovelsschemeheterojunctionphotocatalystyb6te5o192gc3n4synthesischaracterizationphotocatalyticactivityandmechanism AT chungshinlu anovelsschemeheterojunctionphotocatalystyb6te5o192gc3n4synthesischaracterizationphotocatalyticactivityandmechanism AT chiingchangchen novelsschemeheterojunctionphotocatalystyb6te5o192gc3n4synthesischaracterizationphotocatalyticactivityandmechanism AT chaoweichen novelsschemeheterojunctionphotocatalystyb6te5o192gc3n4synthesischaracterizationphotocatalyticactivityandmechanism AT janahshaya novelsschemeheterojunctionphotocatalystyb6te5o192gc3n4synthesischaracterizationphotocatalyticactivityandmechanism AT shuoyizhang novelsschemeheterojunctionphotocatalystyb6te5o192gc3n4synthesischaracterizationphotocatalyticactivityandmechanism AT yuyunlin novelsschemeheterojunctionphotocatalystyb6te5o192gc3n4synthesischaracterizationphotocatalyticactivityandmechanism AT fuyuliu novelsschemeheterojunctionphotocatalystyb6te5o192gc3n4synthesischaracterizationphotocatalyticactivityandmechanism AT jiahaolin novelsschemeheterojunctionphotocatalystyb6te5o192gc3n4synthesischaracterizationphotocatalyticactivityandmechanism AT chungshinlu novelsschemeheterojunctionphotocatalystyb6te5o192gc3n4synthesischaracterizationphotocatalyticactivityandmechanism |