Core–Shell Structured Cobalt Sulfide/C. I. Pigment Yellow 53 Photocatalysts with Abundant Sulfur Vacancies for Efficient Photocatalytic Co‐Production of Xylonic Acid and CO

• Published in: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Germany), 2024-11, Vol.20 (47), p.e2401977-n/a
• Main Authors: Zhang, Jia, Ma, Jiliang, Zhang, Junqiang, Cui, Rui, Liu, Zhendong, Li, Xinze, Sun, Runcang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alternative energy sources; Biomass energy production; Biorefineries; biorefinery; Bonding strength; Catalytic activity; Charge efficiency; Cobalt sulfide; Core-shell structure; CoS/PY53‐CSx; Electric fields; Electron paramagnetic resonance; Electron spin; Electron transfer; Oxidation; Photocatalysis; Photocatalysts; Pigments; Recyclability; Refining; Solar energy; Spin resonance; Sulfur; sulfur vacancies
• ISSN: 1613-6810; 1613-6829; 1613-6829
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.202401977

Photocatalytic biorefinery has been gaining increasing attention as a promising method for utilizing biomass and solar energy, yet it still faces the key challenge of designing stable, efficient, and cost‐effective photocatalysts. In this study, cobalt sulfide/ C. I. Pigment Yellow 53 composite photocatalysts (CoS/PY53‐CSx) with a core–shell structure, which has abundant sulfur (S) vacancies, are developed using a simple hydrothermal method. The CoS nanocage with S vacancies not only offers numerous active sites but also enhances the light‐trapping performance of PY53. Moreover, the internal electric field within the core–shell CoS/PY53‐CSx further enhances charge separation/transfer efficiency while reducing electron transfer resistance, thereby boosting photocatalytic activity. Remarkably, 75.2% of xylonic acid and 22.8 µmol of CO from xylose are obtained using CoS/PY53‐CS0.1 in an air atmosphere. Recycling experiments demonstrate that CoS/PY53‐CS0.1 exhibits excellent recyclability due to the strong bonding force between the core and shell. In addition, electron spin resonance characterization combined with poisoning experiments suggests that h+ and ·O2− serve as the main oxidation active species during this system. This work presents a simple and cost‐effective method for efficient photocatalytic biorefinery. Combining the unique structural and optical properties of cobalt sulfide nanocages and the excellent photocatalytic properties of C. I. Pigment Yellow 53, a novel composite photocatalyst (CoS/PY53‐CSx) with a core–shell structure rich in S vacancies is constructed. CoS/PY53‐CSx exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity and effective photocatalytic co‐production of xylonic acid and CO.