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Theoretical progress on direct Z-scheme photocatalysis of two-dimensional heterostructures

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Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) materials, due to its excellent mechanical, unique electrical and optical properties, have become hot materials in the field of photocatalysis. Especially, 2D heterostructures can well inhibit the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes in photocatalysis because of its special energy band structures and carrier transport characteristics, which are conducive to enhancing photoenergy conversion capacity and improving oxidation and reduction ability, so as to purify pollutants and store energy. In this minireview, we summarize recent theoretical progress in direct Z-scheme photocatalysis of 2D heterostructures, focusing on physical mechanism and improving catalytic efficiency. Current challenges and prospects for 2D direct Z-scheme photocatalysts are discussed as well.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2017YFA0204800), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 22033002, 21525311, and 21973011), and the Scientific Research Foundation of Graduate School of Southeast University (No. YBPY1968).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physics, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China

    Zhaobo Zhou, Shijun Yuan & Jinlan Wang

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  1. Zhaobo Zhou
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  2. Shijun Yuan
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Correspondence to Shijun Yuan or Jinlan Wang.

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Special Topic: Heterojunction and Its Applications (Ed. Chenghua Sun). This article can also be found at http://journal.hep.com.cn/fop/EN/10.1007/s11467-021-1054-0.

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Zhou, Z., Yuan, S. & Wang, J. Theoretical progress on direct Z-scheme photocatalysis of two-dimensional heterostructures. Front. Phys. 16, 43203 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-021-1054-0

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