Synergistic dual-strategy incorporating hollow-structuring and deposition of MoSχ conductive layer for enhancing photocatalytic activity of ZnO.

Despite methods for improving photo-activity have been proposed over years, the synergism from coupling them remains mystery. Therefore, current study unveils this by incorporating both hollow-structuring and deposition of conductive layer in one-single system, thereafter evaluating the photocatalytic synergism enabled from the said system. Model photocatalyst, ZnO, was manufactured into hollow structure, followed by surficial MoSχ deposition using ambient photo-reduction process. In photoreaction degrading tetracycline (TC), only marginal catalytic improvement can be imparted by morphological advantage alone, considering the barely discernible activity of hollow (44.60%) and bulk ZnO (41.68%). With MoSχ layer incorporated, ZnO/MoSχ-2.5% enables a remarkable 69.60% TC degradation, representing a 67% activity boost compared to bulk ZnO. Such improvement can be attributed to the improved optical properties, promoted charges separation, as well as the better O2-accommodating capability of ZnO for facilitated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production after MoSχ-modification. Meanwhile, significance analysis assisted by artificial intelligence (AI) suggests that TC degradation is mainly affected by activator (38.1%), irradiation time (28.5%), and light intensity (23.3%). Overall, this work highlights the potential of dual activity-improvement strategies, as well as AI-aided significance analysis in further advancing photocatalytic technology.