Piezoelectric effect synergistically enhances the performance of Ti₃₂-oxo-cluster/BaTiO₃/CuS p-n heterojunction photocatalytic degradation of pollutants

A cyclic Ti₃₂-oxo-cluster (CTOC)/BaTiO₃/CuS three-layer heterojunction material that can effectively use visible light and vibration energy for photo-piezoelectric synergistic catalytic degradation of pollutants was synthesized by hydrothermal and ultrasonic methods. Under the conditions of visible light irradiation and mechanical vibration, the three-layer nanomaterial showed a tetracycline decomposition rate that reached ∼100 % within 60 min, which is higher than the degradation rate of 55.67 % and 45.2 % found for photocatalysis and piezoelectric catalysis, respectively. The piezoelectric material BaTiO₃ inserted between the p-type CuS and the n-type CTOC can generate a polarized electric field under the action of an external force to promote the separation and migration of photo-generated carriers of the photocatalytic material, and achieve photo-piezoelectric synergistic catalysis effect. This work demonstrates the feasibility of combining photocatalytic technology with a piezoelectric effect, and provides a promising strategy for the development of photocatalytic materials.