Hot Electron-Assisted Noble-Metal-Free Synergistic Photothermal Catalyst for Solar-Driven Wastewater Remediation and Microbial Disinfection
Journal
Advanced Science
ISSN
21983844
Date Issued
2025
Author(s)
Sharma, Manish Kumar
Nahak, Bishal Kumar
Parashar, Parag
Singh, Uday Kumar
Khan, Arshad
Chowdhury, Jaba Roy
Pal, Parthasarathi
Choi, Dongwhi
Lim, Hae Gyun
Chueh, Yu-Lun
Abstract
The escalating challenge of water contamination by recalcitrant organic pollutants and pathogens calls for sustainable, solar-powered technologies that operate without external energy or chemical inputs. Such systems require multifunctional materials capable of harvesting broad-spectrum sunlight to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) for simultaneous degradation and disinfection. Conventional photocatalysts are hindered by their limited spectral absorption and rapid charge recombination, which restricts their practical efficacy in real-world applications. To overcome these challenges, we engineered a hybrid Bi2Te3@CdS nanostructure incorporated into a porous polyurethane (PU) foam scaffold, facilitating synergistic photothermal and thermocatalytic efficacy under comprehensive solar illumination. The hybrid architecture facilitates effective separation of photogenerated charge carriers, markedly diminishing recombination losses and augmenting the production of ROS, such as •O2−, •OH, and H2O2. Concurrently, Bi2Te3 functions as a thermoelectric absorber that effectively transforms NIR-induced heat into catalytic activation energy, thereby enhancing degradation kinetics. This dual-mode activation causes organic pollutants (such as dyes and pesticides) to mineralize quickly and inactivate E. coli and S. aureus with >99% photothermal assistance. High photostability and reusability enable the material to maintain its activity over multiple cycles without appreciable degradation. By synergistically integrating broadband solar harvesting, efficient ROS generation, and thermocatalytic activation, this study presents an energy-autonomous strategy for water remediation and sustained antimicrobial defense, offering significant potential for public health benefits.
Subjects
disinfection
photothermal
ROS generation
thermocatalysis
wastewater treatment
Publisher
John Wiley and Sons Inc
Type
journal article