In-situ grown Bi2S3 heterostructures on SrBi4Ti4O15 for efficient synergistic organic pollutant degradation and hydrogen evolution

Catalytic systems that couple pollutant degradation with hydrogen evolution have attracted attention due to their potential to simultaneously address two key challenges. To achieve this goal this paper studies a piezoelectric-driven synchronous redox system that realizes a synergistic effect of organic pollutant degradation and hydrogen generation—effectively producing hydrogen from the decomposition of organic wastewater. By in-situ growing Bi 2 S 3 on SrBi 4 Ti 4 O 15 (SBTO), a SBTO@Bi 2 S 3 heterojunction is formed, the interfacial contact between the two phases is optimized, significantly enhancing the overall catalytic performance in both pollutant degradation and water splitting for hydrogen production. Using methylene blue (MB) as an organic pollutant substitute for conventional hydrogen evolution sacrificial agents (e.g., methanol), the SBTO@Bi 2 S 3 catalyst achieves both efficient MB degradation and a hydrogen evolution rate of up to 3.28 mmol g −1 h −1 . Mechanistic studies indicate that methylene blue (MB) can effectively capture holes during its efficient degradation, suppressing electron-hole recombination and simultaneously promoting proton reduction to generate hydrogen. Meanwhile, electron consumption during hydrogen evolution also mitigates electron-hole recombination, further enhancing MB degradation and establishing a mutually reinforcing cycle. This work fills an important gap in the field of piezocatalysis by demonstrating a coupled process of wastewater remediation and hydrogen evolution, offering a new strategy for both environmental restoration and sustainable energy production.