Piezo‐catalysis in BiFeO<sub>3</sub>@In<sub>2</sub>Se<sub>3</sub> Heterojunction for High‐Efficiency Uranium Removal
Rongshuo Guo, Linghua Jin, Ye Zhang
Abstract
Abstract Piezo‐catalysis emerges as an efficient, safe, and affordable strategy for removing hazardous substances from aquatic environments. Here, the BiFeO 3 @In 2 Se 3 heterojunction demonstrates remarkable prowess as a piezo‐catalyst, enabling the high‐efficiency removal of uranium (U) from U(VI)‐containing water. A total U(VI) removal efficiency of 94.6% can be achieved under ultrasonic vibration without any sacrificial agents. During the entire catalytic process, piezo‐induced electrons, hydroxyl radicals, and superoxide radicals play important roles in U(VI) removal, while the generated H 2 O 2 is responsive to the transformation of soluble U(VI) into insoluble (UO 2 )O 2 •2H 2 O and UO 3 . Furthermore, auxiliary illumination can accelerate the increase of free charges, enabling the piezo‐catalyst to retain more charges. This leads to an improved U(VI) removal efficiency of 98.8% and a significantly increased reaction rate constant. This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the fabrication of high‐efficiency piezo‐catalysts in the removal or extraction of U(VI) from U(VI)‐containing water.