journal article·2026-02

Transition M etal Nitride‐Bridged All‐Solid‐State Z‐Scheme Heterojunctions for Enhanced Interfacial Charge Transfer and Photocatalysis

Xiang Li, Jing Li, Yue Mao, Hongfei Yin, Ho Ngoc Nam, Dongdong Xiao, Chunyu Yuan, Quan Manh Phung, Qizhao Wang, Yongzheng Zhang

Advanced Functional Materials· Volume 36· Issue 14
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Abstract

Abstract All‐solid‐state Z‐scheme photocatalysts exhibit remarkable potential for enhancing charge transfer dynamics, however, precise regulation of conductive medium distribution at the heterointerface remains challenging. Here, a series of transition metal nitrides (TMNs)‐bridged 1D@2D MO x @MN x /ZnIn 2 S 4 heterojunctions, including WO 3 @W 2 N/ZnIn 2 S 4 (WWZ), TiO 2 @TiN/ZnIn 2 S 4 (TTZ), and Co 3 O 4 @Co 5.47 N/ZnIn 2 S 4 (CCZ) are constructed via an in situ nitridation strategy. Using WWZ as a representative example, the introduction of W 2 N at the interface of WO 3 /ZnIn 2 S 4 (WZ) heterojunction significantly optimizes charge transfer behavior and accelerates carrier dynamics, as confirmed by in situ irradiated X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ISXPS), in situ Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM), Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope (FLIM), femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy (fs‐TA), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Benefiting from the optimized H* adsorption/desorption process enabled by the strengthened built‐in electric field, the WWZ achieves a hydrogen production rate of 8.9 mmol g −1 h −1 . This represents a 20‐fold enhancement compared to pristine ZnIn 2 S 4 (ZIS) and a 9.5‐fold improvement over the WO 3 /ZnIn 2 S 4 composite. This work highlights the crucial role of a strong built‐in electric field and interfacial charge transfer capacity in driving photocatalytic activity, offering new insights for the rational design of all‐solid‐state Z‐scheme heterojunctions.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques · ZnO doping and properties · Quantum Dots Synthesis And Properties

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

School of Physics and Physical Engineering Qufu Normal University Qufu 273165 China

Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 China

School of Materials and Environmental Engineering Chizhou University Chizhou 247000 China

Department of Materials Process Engineering Graduate School of Engineering Nagoya University Nagoya 464‐8603 Japan

Institute of Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 China

Department of Chemistry Graduate School of Science Nagoya University Nagoya 464‐8602 Japan

Institute of Transformative Bio‐Molecules (WPI‐ITbM) Nagoya University Nagoya 464‐8601 Japan

College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Northwest Normal University Lanzhou Gansu 730070 China

Quantum Science Center of Guangdong‐Hong Kong‐Macao Greater Bay Area Shenzhen 518102 China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · Taishan Scholar Foundation of Shandong Province

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