Enhanced interface charge transfer through heterostructure coupling of NiO/NiCo2O4 and carbon layer for photocatalysis

Abstract

Constructing heterogeneous composite materials is a promising strategy for enhancing photocatalytic performance. In this study, the calcination method was employed to coat a carbon layer onto the surface of quartz sand. Additionally, NiO/NiCo₂O₄ heterostructures were loaded onto the carbon layer to facilitate charge transfer and enhance photo-generated electron yield. The carefully designed QSC@NiO/NiCo₂O₄ heterojunction possesses an efficient interface charge transfer channel, thereby improving contaminant degradation capacity. The results demonstrated that under 120 min of light exposure, the removal efficiencies for RhB and MB reached 94.75 % and 93.55 %, respectively. After undergoing 5 cycles, both RhB and MB exhibited consistently high elimination rates with values of 83.74 % and 77.42 %, respectively. Furthermore, tapping experiments were conducted to explore the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation.