Enhancing catalytic performance of intergrowth ferroelectric Bi5TiNbWO15 through strong synergistic photo–tribo–piezo multi-field polarization

Abstract

Piezocatalysis emerges as a promising strategy for environmental remediation by effectively harnessing mechanical vibrations as an abundant energy source. Here, we prepare an intergrowth ferroelectric layered bismuth-based semiconductor, Bi₅TiNbWO₁₅, as a robust and multifunctional piezocatalyst. Notably, Bi₅TiNbWO₁₅ demonstrates effective synergism of photo–tribo–piezo effects, enabling efficient decontamination of organic pollutants and H₂O₂ generation. This superior performance arises from its strong ferroelectricity, which creates a strengthened piezoelectric field that effectively manipulates various charge carriers. The photo–tribo–piezocatalytic degradation of a high-concentration organic pollutant (100 mg L⁻¹) reaches ∼95% within 60 min. Furthermore, Bi₅TiNbWO₁₅ exhibits the highest photo–tribo–piezocatalytic H₂O₂ production rate of 1996.7 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ without using co-catalysts or any sacrificial agent, which is ∼6.2-fold and ∼1.5-fold higher than those of Bi₂WO₆ and Bi₃TiNbO₉, respectively. A systematic combination of experimental analysis and theoretical simulations revealed that the strong ferroelectricity-induced polarization field promotes the directional migration of charges, thereby enhancing the multi-field coupling catalytic performance. By enhancing piezocatalysis through a distinctive multi-field synergy, our work offers valuable insights into designing sustainable, multifunctional piezocatalysts to effectively drive eco-friendly chemical reactions in critical environmental and energy applications utilizing readily available light and mechanical energies.