Tailoring Photocatalytic Efficiency: DFNS/WO₃ Nanocomposite with Engineered Interface for Enhanced Oxygen Evolution

Here, we report the synthesis of novel DFNS/WO3 photocatalysts through a hydrothermal method. A thorough exploration of the crystal phase purity, optical absorption properties, and morphology of DFNS/WO3 was undertaken, employing techniques such as powder X-ray diffraction (P-XRD), 29Si cross-polarization magic angle spinning NMR (29Si CPMAS NMR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. This comprehensive characterization revealed the existence of a distinctive interface between WO3 nanoparticles and the dendritic fibrous nanosilica (DFNS) surface. In photocatalytic water-splitting experiments, the DFNS/WO3 nanocomposite, featuring 7 wt% of WO3 on DFNS, demonstrated a remarkable increase in oxygen evolution rate (1863 μmol h–1 g–1cat) compared to pure WO3 (361 μmol h–1 g–1cat), marking a notable five-time improvement. This study presents an innovative approach to developing an efficient photocatalytic system by incorporating DFNS/WO3 nanocomposites, where WO3 possesses an optimal band gap of 2.96 eV, making it highly suitable for photocatalytic water splitting. The DFNS/WO3 photocatalyst demonstrates remarkable catalytic activity, stability, and reusability, addressing key considerations for practical applications. This study provides an innovative strategy for designing advanced photocatalytic systems capable of efficient and sustainable oxygen evolution under visible light.