Pyro-photocatalytic Coupled Effect in Ferroelectric Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃ Nanoparticles for Enhanced Dye Degradation

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), achieved through the continuous attack of reactive oxygen species (ROS), are considered the most efficient way to mineralize organic pollutants. Among them, photocatalysis is the most environmentally friendly strategy for pollution mitigation but is hampered by low conversion efficiency. By exploiting the coupling effect without changing the properties of the semiconductor, the application of pyroelectric fields can significantly improve the catalytic performance. The degradation rate of rhodamine B by Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 (BNT) nanoparticles under temperature fluctuations and visible light irradiation was up to 98%. The performance was enhanced by 216.54% and 31.48% compared to the pyroelectric catalysis and photocatalysis alone, respectively. The improved performance is due to the introduced pyroelectric potential with the imposition of temperature fluctuations, which can make the domains enhance the polarization of ferroelectrics, thus promoting the charge separation. This method can significantly advance the coupled pyro-photocatalytic reaction of ferroelectric semiconductors and also can enable the synergistic utilization of multiple energy sources such as solar and thermal energy, which is a promising strategy for environmental remediation.