Interfacial Engineering of n‐p Cd <sub>2</sub> In <sub>2</sub> S <sub>5</sub> /Co <sub>3</sub> O <sub>4</sub> Heterojunctions with Built‐In Electric Field: Ameliorated Charge Transfer Dynamics for Photoreforming of PET Plastic into H <sub>2</sub> and

Abstract In the quest to address the escalating plastic pollution, artificial photosynthesis offers an innovative approach to upcycling plastic waste into clean fuels and valuable chemicals. However, arduous challenges remain in the realm of photocatalysis due to the inefficient utilization of electron‐hole pairs. In this work, a n‐p heterojunction Cd 2 In 2 S 5 /Co 3 O 4 composite with a built‐in electric field is engineered to convert an omnipresent plastic, namely polyethylene terephthalate (PET), into H 2 (63.10 µmol h −1 ) and organic chemicals (formic acid: 8.34 µmol h −1 ; oxalic acid: 1.22 µmol h −1 ; glycolic acid: 5.22 µmol h −1 ) under the visible light irradiation. The solar‐to‐hydrogen and apparent quantum efficiency in this sacrificial‐substrate‐free system achieve a value of 0.17% and 0.48% (420 nm), respectively. The excellent performance is primarily accredited to the expanded light absorption range, enhanced specific surface area, improved carrier separation efficiency, and boosted interfacial charge transport. Advanced characterization techniques, including KPFM and EPR, uncover the intricate charge transfer dynamics of PET photoreforming, where the photogenerated holes accumulated on Co 3 O 4 initiate the plastic oxidation half‐reaction. Finally, the photoreforming of real‐world PET bottles demonstrates the broad universality of Cd 2 In 2 S 5 /Co 3 O 4 hybrids. This research presents a trailblazing standpoint for the design of p‐n heterojunctions to bridge new exemplifications toward environmental sustainability.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Functional Materials
Published
2025-07-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202508117
Citations
4
Primary Topic
Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.45

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article

Interfacial Engineering of n‐p Cd 2 In 2 S 5 /Co 3 O 4 Heterojunctions with Built‐In Electric Field: Ameliorated Charge Transfer Dynamics for Photoreforming of PET Plastic into H 2 and

Lling‐Lling Tan, Wee‐Jun Ong, Steven Hao Wan Kok, Kelvin O. Lim et al.
4 citations
Advanced Functional Materials
Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques
1.45
article

Interfacial Engineering of n‐p Cd 2 In 2 S 5 /Co 3 O 4 Heterojunctions with Built‐In Electric Field: Ameliorated Charge Transfer Dynamics for Photoreforming of PET Plastic into H 2 and

Lling‐Lling Tan, Wee‐Jun Ong, Steven Hao Wan Kok, Kelvin O. Lim, Binghui Chen, Valerine Khoo, Peipei Zhang, Xianhai Zeng
article en
4 citations

Abstract

Abstract In the quest to address the escalating plastic pollution, artificial photosynthesis offers an innovative approach to upcycling plastic waste into clean fuels and valuable chemicals. However, arduous challenges remain in the realm of photocatalysis due to the inefficient utilization of electron‐hole pairs. In this work, a n‐p heterojunction Cd 2 In 2 S 5 /Co 3 O 4 composite with a built‐in electric field is engineered to convert an omnipresent plastic, namely polyethylene terephthalate (PET), into H 2 (63.10 µmol h −1 ) and organic chemicals (formic acid: 8.34 µmol h −1 ; oxalic acid: 1.22 µmol h −1 ; glycolic acid: 5.22 µmol h −1 ) under the visible light irradiation. The solar‐to‐hydrogen and apparent quantum efficiency in this sacrificial‐substrate‐free system achieve a value of 0.17% and 0.48% (420 nm), respectively. The excellent performance is primarily accredited to the expanded light absorption range, enhanced specific surface area, improved carrier separation efficiency, and boosted interfacial charge transport. Advanced characterization techniques, including KPFM and EPR, uncover the intricate charge transfer dynamics of PET photoreforming, where the photogenerated holes accumulated on Co 3 O 4 initiate the plastic oxidation half‐reaction. Finally, the photoreforming of real‐world PET bottles demonstrates the broad universality of Cd 2 In 2 S 5 /Co 3 O 4 hybrids. This research presents a trailblazing standpoint for the design of p‐n heterojunctions to bridge new exemplifications toward environmental sustainability.

Advanced Functional MaterialsVol. 36(21)
Monash University Malaysia (MY), Xiamen University (CN), Korea University (KR), Xiamen University Malaysia (MY), Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Kementerian Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi, Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação, Xiamen University, PETRONAS Research Sdn Bhd, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Xiamen University, Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province
Openalex Percentile: Top 18%
Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques
1.45
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