Silver-modified Bi2WO6 nanosheets for efficient hydrogen production via piezo-photo-catalysis

Addressing the growing demand for clean energy necessitates innovative approaches to enhance hydrogen production efficiency. Combining photo-catalysis and piezo-catalysis offers a synergistic strategy for energy conversion, yet the limited charge transfer and separation efficiency in pure Bi 2 WO 6 hinders its catalytic performance. Herein, by adopting Ag nanoparticles deposited on Bi 2 WO 6 nanosheets (Bi 2 WO 6 –2% Ag) as a paradigm, it is demonstrated that the incorporation of Ag significantly enhances charge separation and transfer via improved piezoelectric and electronic interactions. This modification not only boosts the piezoelectric coefficient by 1.78-fold but also promotes the generation of piezo-induced and photogenerated carriers. Consequently, Bi 2 WO 6 –2% Ag achieves a hydrogen yield of 14.3 mmol·g -1 ·h -1 under piezo-catalytic conditions, a 60.7% improvement compared to pristine Bi 2 WO 6 . Under combined piezo-photo-catalytic conditions, the hydrogen yield further increases to 30.9 mmol·g -1 ·h -1 . The enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic effects of ultrasonic vibration and ultraviolet light, which induce band bending and polarization-driven charge migration, facilitating hydrogen production. This study provides valuable insights into the integration of noble metal deposition and piezo-photo-catalysis, opening a new pathway for the design of advanced catalysts for sustainable hydrogen energy solutions.