Novel photocatalysts based on ferroelectric high entropy oxide-metal nanoparticle composites

Ferroelectric high entropy oxides (FHEOs) are a novel type of ferroelectric material with the simultaneous existence of configurational entropy and internal ferroelectric polarisation.

These effects combined with intrinsic lattice distortion and uneven electron-cloud distribution of high entropy oxides can lead to the generation of multiple active sites with improved separation of charge carriers, significantly impacting different photocatalytic reactions, such as pollutants degradation and water splitting.

Furthermore, the visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity of FHEOs can be secured by the decoration with plasmonic metal nanoparticles (MNPs), efficiently harvesting visible light due to their localised surface plasmon resonance (LSPR).

Thus, our strategy is to synthesize an entirely new FHEO and decorate it with plasmonic MNPs to produce a novel material with improved charge separation and visible light absorption, which will contribute to a major step forward in the catalysis field.

The produced materials will be fully characterised and the photocatalytic efficiency will be evaluated over the degradation of pollutants present in wastewater and in the water splitting process.