Modulating Catalyst-Reactant Interface Microenvironment for Efficient Photocatalysis on Bismuth Sulfide

Pollution by organic dyes has received extensive attention due to their high toxicity, biohazard, and high stability in the natural environment, and the development of high-efficiency dye degradation and heavy metal ion reduction technologies is urgently needed in photocatalysis. However, the interface microenvironment between catalyst and pollutant is often ignored, and the poor compatibility of the catalyst-pollutant interface constrains further efficient catalysis. Herein, to improve the compatibility of the catalyst-pollutant interface, a surfactant-capping strategy for enhanced photocatalysis of rhodamine B (RhB) on one-dimensional rod-like Bi2S3 nanocrystals was investigated. Specifically, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-capped Bi2S3 (Bi2S3-PVP) showed enhanced RhB degradation rate compared with pure Bi2S3, and further studies suggested enhanced reaction interface compatibility at the Bi2S3-PVP-RhB interface. This work provides an interface microenvironment modulation strategy for improving photocatalytic performance towards organic dyes.

Automated summary

This study investigated a surfactant-capping strategy to enhance the photocatalytic performance of rhodamine B (RhB) on one-dimensional rod-like Bi2S3 nanocrystals. It was found that polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-capped Bi2S3 (Bi2S3-PVP) exhibited a higher RhB degradation rate compared to pure Bi2S3, and further studies suggested enhanced reaction interface compatibility at the Bi2S3-PVP-RhB interface. This research provides an interface microenvironment modulation strategy for improving the photocatalytic performance towards organic dyes.