Insight into the highly efficient photocatalytic behavior of α-MoO3/AgBr heterojunction with S-scheme charge transfer strategy

The improvement of photoactivity and stability, as well as a deep insight into the intrinsic mechanism, has significant practical implications for heterostructured photocatalysts. Herein, AgBr nanoparticles were successfully anchored onto the surface of α-MoO3 nanostrips to form a 0D/2D AgBr/MoO3 heterojunction. The photocatalytic performance of the heterojunction under sunlight was enhanced about 9.5 times compared to primary α-MoO3, along with excellent stability. When exposed to various light sources, the photoexcited charge carriers in the heterojunction experienced different transfer pathways, and the relative contributions of the main reactive species to the photocatalysis were varied. The mechanism investigation reveals that the S-scheme transfer strategy of charge carriers as well as the internal electric field (IEF) at the α-MoO3/AgBr interface not only boosts their rapid spatial separation and transfer but maximizes the redox capacity, enhancing the photocatalytic activity of α-MoO3/AgBr and guaranteeing its stability. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.