Interface engineering via temperature-dependent self-transformation on SnS2/SnS for enhanced piezocatalysis

Heterojunction has been widely used in vibration-driven piezocatalysis for enhanced charges separation, while the weak interfaces seriously affect the efficiency during mechanical deformations due to prepared by traditional step-by-step methods. Herein, the intimate contact interfaces with shared S atoms are ingeniously constructed in SnS₂/SnS anchored on porous carbon by effective interface engineering, which is in-situ derived from temperature-dependent self-transformation of SnS₂. Benefiting from intimate contact interfaces, the piezoelectricity is remarkably improved due to the larger interfacial dipole moment caused by uneven distribution of charges. Importantly, vibration-induced piezoelectric polarization field strengthens the interfacial electric field to further promote the separation and migration of charges. The dynamic charges then transfer in porous carbon with high conductivity and adsorption for significantly improved piezocatalytic activity. The degradation efficiency of bisphenol A (BPA) is 6.3 times higher than SnS₂ and H₂ evolution rate is increased by 3.8 times. Compared with SnS₂/SnS prepared by two-step solvothermal method, the degradation efficiency of BPA and H₂ evolution activity are increased by 3 and 2 times, respectively. It provides a theoretical guidance for developing various multiphase structural piezocatalyst with strong interface interactions to improve the piezocatalytic efficiency.