One-pot synthesis of 2D Ag/BiOCl/Bi2O2CO3 S-scheme heterojunction with oxygen vacancy for photocatalytic disinfection of Fusarium graminearum in vitro and in vivo

Abstract

2D Ag/BiOCl/Bi₂O₂CO₃ S-scheme heterojunction was prepared with oxygen vacancy (OVs) via one-pot hydrothermal method. The XRD and XPS analysis indicated the synthesized sample contained Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) instead of Ag ions. The SEM and HRTEM pictures showed that BiOCl/Bi₂O₂CO₃ nanosheets were modified with AgNPs. Compared with AgNPs, BiOCl, and Bi₂O₂CO₃, Ag/BiOCl/Bi₂O₂CO₃ exhibited highly photocatalytic inactivation of pathogenic fungi (Fusarium graminearum) due to the wide light absorption range and S-scheme heterojunction structure, which improved the production and transfer of photogenerated carrier, and enhanced the separation of photogenerated e^-/h⁺ pairs. In addition, the improved photocatalytic disinfection against Fusarium graminearum of Ag/BiOCl/Bi₂O₂CO₃ was verified in Sedeveria Letizia plant. Furthermore, active species capture assay and ESR experiments disclosed the involvement of OVs, h⁺, ∙O₂^-, ∙OH, and ^-for Fusarium graminearum destruction during photocatalysis process. The S-scheme heterojunction was proved via oxygen vacancy, which was extensively beneficial to increase charge transmission and separation efficiency. Our work proposed Ag/BiOCl/Bi₂O₂CO₃ was an efficient and ecological fungicide to inactive Fusarium graminearum in vitro and vivo for crop disease.

Keywords: Ag/BiOCl/Bi(2)O(2)CO(3); Antifungal; Fusarium graminearum; Mechanism; S-Scheme heterojunction.