Heterostructured g-C₃N₄/Bi₂WO₆ Composites as Highly Efficient Photocatalysts for Selective Atmospheric Oxidation of Thiols to Disulfides

Improving the transmission and separation efficiency of light carriers is considered an effective method to enhance the catalytic performance of semiconductor photocatalysis. Herein, we report the synthesis and application of g-C₃N₄/Bi₂WO₆ heterostructure nanosheets for the photocatalytic coupling of thiols to disulfides under visible light irradiation. The heterojunction exhibits significant photocatalytic performance compared to the bare catalyst, which dramatically enhances the separation and transfer of photogenerated charge carriers due to the remarkable hole-trapping ability of g-C₃N₄. Various functional symmetrical and asymmetrical disulfides have been effectively prepared by employing this heterostructure photocatalytic system, which features excellent photocatalytic activity and cycling stability. The outstanding photocatalytic activity of the semiconductor heterojunction catalyst provides an economical, sustainable, and thus green process for producing disulfides.