Enhanced piezo-photocatalytic performance of W18O49/BaTiO3 heterojunctions under synergistic broad-spectrum light and ultrasound excitation

Rational regulation of the migration and separation of photogenerated charge carriers is a pivotal strategy for optimizing photocatalytic activity. To maximize the potential of piezoelectric and plasmonic properties, W 18 O 49 /BaTiO 3 heterostructures were fabricated via a straightforward solvothermal process. As anticipated, the W 18 O 49 /BaTiO 3 heterostructures demonstrated a significantly enhanced piezo-photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared light irradiation combined with ultrasound stimulation, outperforming both bare BaTiO 3 and W 18 O 49 . In-depth investigations indicate that the remarkable piezo-photocatalytic performance of the W 18 O 49 /BaTiO 3 heterostructures arises from their exceptional photon energy harvesting across the ultraviolet (UV) to near infrared (NIR) spectrum driven by the localized surface plasmon resonance effect of W 18 O 49 , as well as the enhanced charge-carrier separation facilitated by the polarized electric field of BaTiO 3 and the built-in electric field of the heterojunction. Consequently, the hybrid W 18 O 49 /BaTiO 3 heterostructure, which exploits synergistic piezoelectric and plasmonic effects, demonstrates great potential for antibiotic pollutant treatment.