Dual electric fields in Ni-CdS@Ni(OH)2 heterojunction: A synergistic spatial charge separation approach for enhanced coupled CO2 photoreduction and selective toluene oxidation

Simultaneously inducing dual built-in electric fields (EFs) both within a single component and at the heterojunction interface creates a dual-driving force that is crucial for promoting spatial charge separation. This is particularly significant in challenging coupled systems, such as CO2 photoreduc...

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Main Authors: Khakemin Khan, Ahmed Mahmood Idris, Haseebul Hassan, Sajjad Haider, Salah Ud-Din Khan, Antonio Miotello, Ihsanullah Khan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co. Ltd. 2025-06-01
Series:Advanced Powder Materials
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772834X2500020X
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author Khakemin Khan
Ahmed Mahmood Idris
Haseebul Hassan
Sajjad Haider
Salah Ud-Din Khan
Antonio Miotello
Ihsanullah Khan
author_facet Khakemin Khan
Ahmed Mahmood Idris
Haseebul Hassan
Sajjad Haider
Salah Ud-Din Khan
Antonio Miotello
Ihsanullah Khan
author_sort Khakemin Khan
collection DOAJ
description Simultaneously inducing dual built-in electric fields (EFs) both within a single component and at the heterojunction interface creates a dual-driving force that is crucial for promoting spatial charge separation. This is particularly significant in challenging coupled systems, such as CO2 photoreduction integrated with selective oxidation of toluene to benzaldehyde. However, developing such a system is quite challenging and often requires a precise design and engineering. Herein, we demonstrate a unique Ni-CdS@Ni(OH)2 heterojunction synthesized via an in-situ self-assembly method. Comprehensive mechanistic and theoretical investigations reveal that the Ni-CdS@Ni(OH)2 heterojunction induces dual electric fields (EFs): an intrinsic polarized electric-field within the CdS lattice from Ni doping and an interfacial electric-field from the growth of ultrathin nanosheets of Ni(OH)2 on Ni-CdS nanorods, enabling efficient spatial charge separation and enhanced redox potential. As proof of concept, the Ni-CdS@Ni(OH)2 heterojunction simultaneously exhibits outstanding bifunctional photocatalytic performance, producing CO at a rate of 427 ​μmol ​g−1 ​h−1 and selectively oxidizing toluene to benzaldehyde at a rate of 1476 ​μmol ​g−1 ​h−1 with a selectivity exceeding 85%. This work offers a promising strategy to optimize the utilization of photogenerated carriers in heterojunction photocatalysts, advancing synergistic photocatalytic redox systems.
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spelling doaj-art-0fe6ee4b1d37423e9c5d1e43dd0374c82025-08-20T03:05:22ZengKeAi Communications Co. Ltd.Advanced Powder Materials2772-834X2025-06-014310028410.1016/j.apmate.2025.100284Dual electric fields in Ni-CdS@Ni(OH)2 heterojunction: A synergistic spatial charge separation approach for enhanced coupled CO2 photoreduction and selective toluene oxidationKhakemin Khan0Ahmed Mahmood Idris1Haseebul Hassan2Sajjad Haider3Salah Ud-Din Khan4Antonio Miotello5Ihsanullah Khan6Department of Physics, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 14, 38123, Trento, Italy; Corresponding author.Zhejiang Normal University School of Physics and Electronic Information Engineering, Jinhua 321004, China; Corresponding author.Chemical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Saud University, P.O. Box 800, Riyadh 11421, Saudi ArabiaChemical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Saud University, P.O. Box 800, Riyadh 11421, Saudi ArabiaSustainable Energy Technologies Center, College of Engineering, King Saud University, P.O. Box 800, Riyadh 11421, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Physics, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 14, 38123, Trento, Italy; Corresponding author.Department of Physics, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 14, 38123, Trento, ItalySimultaneously inducing dual built-in electric fields (EFs) both within a single component and at the heterojunction interface creates a dual-driving force that is crucial for promoting spatial charge separation. This is particularly significant in challenging coupled systems, such as CO2 photoreduction integrated with selective oxidation of toluene to benzaldehyde. However, developing such a system is quite challenging and often requires a precise design and engineering. Herein, we demonstrate a unique Ni-CdS@Ni(OH)2 heterojunction synthesized via an in-situ self-assembly method. Comprehensive mechanistic and theoretical investigations reveal that the Ni-CdS@Ni(OH)2 heterojunction induces dual electric fields (EFs): an intrinsic polarized electric-field within the CdS lattice from Ni doping and an interfacial electric-field from the growth of ultrathin nanosheets of Ni(OH)2 on Ni-CdS nanorods, enabling efficient spatial charge separation and enhanced redox potential. As proof of concept, the Ni-CdS@Ni(OH)2 heterojunction simultaneously exhibits outstanding bifunctional photocatalytic performance, producing CO at a rate of 427 ​μmol ​g−1 ​h−1 and selectively oxidizing toluene to benzaldehyde at a rate of 1476 ​μmol ​g−1 ​h−1 with a selectivity exceeding 85%. This work offers a promising strategy to optimize the utilization of photogenerated carriers in heterojunction photocatalysts, advancing synergistic photocatalytic redox systems.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772834X2500020XDual built-in electric fieldsSpatial charge separationIntegrated redox reactions CO2 reductionToluene oxidationSemiconductor photocatalysis
spellingShingle Khakemin Khan
Ahmed Mahmood Idris
Haseebul Hassan
Sajjad Haider
Salah Ud-Din Khan
Antonio Miotello
Ihsanullah Khan
Dual electric fields in Ni-CdS@Ni(OH)2 heterojunction: A synergistic spatial charge separation approach for enhanced coupled CO2 photoreduction and selective toluene oxidation
Advanced Powder Materials
Dual built-in electric fields
Spatial charge separation
Integrated redox reactions CO2 reduction
Toluene oxidation
Semiconductor photocatalysis
title Dual electric fields in Ni-CdS@Ni(OH)2 heterojunction: A synergistic spatial charge separation approach for enhanced coupled CO2 photoreduction and selective toluene oxidation
title_full Dual electric fields in Ni-CdS@Ni(OH)2 heterojunction: A synergistic spatial charge separation approach for enhanced coupled CO2 photoreduction and selective toluene oxidation
title_fullStr Dual electric fields in Ni-CdS@Ni(OH)2 heterojunction: A synergistic spatial charge separation approach for enhanced coupled CO2 photoreduction and selective toluene oxidation
title_full_unstemmed Dual electric fields in Ni-CdS@Ni(OH)2 heterojunction: A synergistic spatial charge separation approach for enhanced coupled CO2 photoreduction and selective toluene oxidation
title_short Dual electric fields in Ni-CdS@Ni(OH)2 heterojunction: A synergistic spatial charge separation approach for enhanced coupled CO2 photoreduction and selective toluene oxidation
title_sort dual electric fields in ni cds ni oh 2 heterojunction a synergistic spatial charge separation approach for enhanced coupled co2 photoreduction and selective toluene oxidation
topic Dual built-in electric fields
Spatial charge separation
Integrated redox reactions CO2 reduction
Toluene oxidation
Semiconductor photocatalysis
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772834X2500020X
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