Synergistic introduction of LSPR effect and Schottky junction: Cu@TiO2 charge regulation achieved efficient, stable photocatalytic removal

Abstract

The local plasmon resonance effect (LSPR) and Schottky junction can effectively enhance the generation and separation efficiency of photo-generated carriers, but their synergistic effect has rarely been studied. In this study, Cu nanoparticles (Cu NPs) were utilized as a co-catalyst for forming Schottky junctions and induced plasma excitation. A simple molten-salt method was employed to prepare dispersed Cu NPs and stable OV, achieving dual regulation of photogenerated carrier separation kinetics and catalytic sites. The synergistic effect of LSPR and Schottky junction enhanced the thermodynamics and kinetics of photocatalytic reactions, facilitating the generation of photo-generated carriers, driving the directional migration of these carriers. The dual-channel regulation mechanism significantly enhanced the photocatalytic efficiency of the catalysts. The study revealed a significant enhancement in the photocatalytic efficiency of Cu10@TiO2, with a TC removal rate of 99.4% achieved within 25 min. The reaction rate was also found to be 3.12 times higher than that of pure TiO2, and enhanced performance remained stable even after multiple cycles. At the same time, the photocatalytic performances of catalysts were investigated in different water environments under various light sources. The results revealed that the as-prepared material maintained favorable photocatalytic activities in tap water, seawater, lake water, and pharmaceutical wastewater, which offers a promising opportunity to address real-life sewage management issues. The facile and cost-effective method for preparing non-precious metal catalysts with the synergistic effects of LSPR and Schottky junction was presented in this work, boosting the potential applications of TiO2-based semiconductor materials in the removal of antibiotics from various water environments.