Bi2MoO6/Nb2O5 Heterostructures as Multifunctional Platforms for Piezophotocatalysis: Advances in the Degradation of Organic Contaminants Under Visible Light
Bi2MoO6; Nb2O5; heterostructures; piezophotocatalysis; Congo Red; environmental remediation; visible light.
The increasing contamination of water resources by persistent and highly toxic organic pollutants has driven the development of sustainable technologies for environmental remediation. In this context, piezophotocatalysis stands out by combining light and mechanical energy to maximize charge carrier separation and enhance the production of reactive oxygen species. In this study, Bi2MoO6/Nb2O5 heterostructures were synthesized via a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. Samples were prepared with different molar ratios of Bi2MoO6 to Nb2O5, designated as B1 (1:1), B2 (1:2), and B3 (2:1). Structural, morphological, surface, optical, piezoelectric, and electrochemical properties were investigated using XRD with Rietveld refinement, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, EDS, XPS, UV-Vis spectroscopy, N₂ adsorption-desorption, photoluminescence, piezoelectric measurements, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and Mott-Schottky analysis. The results confirmed the successful formation of the heterostructures and revealed strong interfacial interactions between the phases, promoting improved charge carrier separation and transport. The B2 heterostructure exhibited the best piezophotocatalytic performance, achieving approximately 95% degradation of Congo Red under visible light irradiation and ultrasound, while also demonstrating a high synergy index between the photocatalytic and piezocatalytic processes. This superior performance was attributed to the formation of a type-II heterojunction coupled with the piezophototronic effect, which facilitates energy band bending and intensifies the directional migration of electrons and holes. The results demonstrate that the combination of Bi2MoO6 and Nb2O5 constitutes a promising strategy for the development of efficient, sustainable, and low-cost piezophotocatalytic materials for applications in environmental remediation and advanced wastewater treatment.