Symmetry-breaking induced piezocatalysis of Bi2S3 nanorods and boosted by alternating magnetic field

In this work, the centrosymmetry of Bi2S3 nanorods is broken due to the introduction of large quantities of Si defects in the crystal lattice, which then endows the Bi(2)S(3 )nanorods with the ability to efficiently reduce Cr(VI) by piezocatalysis. Most importantly, the piezocatalytic reduction could be significantly boosted by applying an alternating magnetic field (AMF). The AMF coupled piezocatalysis is achieved by H(2)O(2)and -O-2(-). AMF is found to facilitate the separation of electrons and holes due to the magnetoresistance effect of Bi2S3 nanorods, thus remarkably enhancing the piezocatalysis by largely increasing the generation of H2O2. This work paves a new way for inducing the piezoelectricity of centrosymmetric materials by introducing defects and improving their catalytic activity through AMF, which has a great application potential in energy and environment fields.

Automated summary

In this study, the centrosymmetry of Bi2S3 nanorods is broken by introducing Si defects into the crystal lattice, enabling them to efficiently reduce Cr(VI) through piezocatalysis. Moreover, the application of an alternating magnetic field (AMF) greatly enhances the piezocatalytic reduction.