Advancing Z-scheme BiOI/Bi2WO6 photocatalysts for the acetalization of furfural and H2 evolution in fatty alcohols under the visible light

Considering the existing energy shortage that has spurred intense efforts in the pursuit of renewable energy resources, it is very promising to solve the energy dilemma by making better use of solar energy efficiency. In this study, under visible light irradiation, the Z-scheme BiOI/Bi2WO6 photocatalyst was adopted to catalyze furfural and fatty alcohols, the yield of furfural acetal reached 23000 μmol h−1 g−1 and the yield of H2 evolution reached 2221 μmol h−1 g−1. Research has verified that the construction of the Z-scheme heterojunction helps to enhance the visible light response and effectively separate photogenerated carriers. Among them, replacing O2 with hydrogen protons in the reduction half-reaction can not only effectively utilize photogenerated electrons and holes, but also place this method at the forefront of photocatalyst research. It enables the efficient photocatalytic acetalization of furfural and the H2 evolution from fatty alcohols. Moreover, in the 6h acetal reaction and hydrogen production experiments using the 5 % BiOI/Bi2WO6 photocatalyst, after 5 cycles, the experimental results remained stable and efficient, indicating good sustainability of the catalyst. This work emphasizes the design of effective bifunctional heterostructure photocatalysts to simultaneously produce high-value chemicals and H2 from renewable biomass resources, providing a strong boost to the development of green and sustainable energy and facilitating the renewable energy field to scale new heights.