Ferroelectric Polarization-Enhanced Photocatalysis in BaTiO(3)-TiO(2) Core-Shell Heterostructures

Suppressing charge recombination and improving carrier transport are key challenges for the enhancement of photocatalytic activity of heterostructured photocatalysts. Here, we report a ferroelectric polarization-enhanced photocatalysis on the basis of BaTiO(3)-TiO(2) core-shell heterostructures synthesized via a hydrothermal process. With an optimal weight ratio of BaTiO(3) to TiO(2), the heterostructures exhibited the maximum photocatalytic performance of 1.8 times higher than pure TiO(2) nanoparticles(.) The enhanced photocatalytic activity is attributed to the promotion of charge separation and transport based on the internal electric field originating from the spontaneous polarization of ferroelectric BaTiO(3.) High stability of polarization-enhanced photocatalysis is also confirmed from the BaTiO(3)-TiO(2) core-shell heterostructures. This study provides evidence that ferroelectric polarization holds great promise for improving the performance of heterostructured photocatalysts.