Tri-phase photocatalysis on fly Ash-CaMoO4: Synergistic CO2 reduction and antibiotic degradation via interfacial mass transfer and photothermal activation

Ming Cai; Yuanyuan Li; Xu Tang; Yan Yan; Sheng Ji; Chunbo Liu; Guangbo Che; Yue Zhang; Wahyu Prasetyo Utomo; Siyu Song; Zhi Zhu; Jun Zhao; Yanfen Fang; Pengwei Huo

doi:10.1016/j.surfin.2025.108037

Tri-phase photocatalysis on fly Ash-CaMoO₄: Synergistic CO₂ reduction and antibiotic degradation via interfacial mass transfer and photothermal activation

Ming Cai
, Yuanyuan Li
, Xu Tang^*
, Yan Yan
, Sheng Ji
, Chunbo Liu
, Guangbo Che
, Yue Zhang
, Wahyu Prasetyo Utomo
, Siyu Song
, Zhi Zhu^*
, Jun Zhao^*
, Yanfen Fang
, Pengwei Huo

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Biology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A novel floating CaMoO₄/fly ash (FA) photocatalyst was synthesized via a facile hydrothermal route, where Ca²⁺ ions leached from FA’s glassy matrix react with MoO₄²⁻ species generated through oxidation of MoS₂ quantum dots (QDs), driving in situ crystallization of scheelite-type octahedral CaMoO₄ on FA surfaces. The composite exhibits dual photocatalytic functionality: (i) CO₂-to-CO conversion (676.3 μmol·g⁻¹, 96.91% selectivity; 3.47 times higher than gas-solid systems), (ii) tetracycline (TC) degradation (94.9% in 1 h; 88% efficiency retention over 8 cycles). The inherent buoyancy and hydrophobicity of FA enable spontaneous formation of a gas (CO₂/O₂)-liquid (H₂O)-solid (catalyst) tri-phase interface, enhancing solar utilization, mass transfer, and ROS generation. Critically, the gray-black CaMoO₄/FA achieves exceptional photothermal conversion (80.3 °C surface temperature under 1000 mW·cm⁻² irradiation within 180 s), lowering activation barriers and accelerating reaction kinetics. Reaction mechanisms were elucidated through in situ spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. This work establishes a waste-derived tri-phase platform for sustainable CO₂ valorization and water remediation.

Original language	English
Article number	108037
Number of pages	12
Journal	Surfaces and Interfaces
Volume	77
Early online date	8 Nov 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfin.2025.108037
Publication status	Published - 15 Nov 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

User-Defined Keywords

CO reduction
Mass transfer
Photothermal conversion
Tetracycline degradation
Tri-phase interface

Access to Document

10.1016/j.surfin.2025.108037

Cite this

Cai, M., Li, Y., Tang, X., Yan, Y., Ji, S., Liu, C., Che, G., Zhang, Y., Utomo, W. P., Song, S., Zhu, Z., Zhao, J., Fang, Y., & Huo, P. (2025). Tri-phase photocatalysis on fly Ash-CaMoO₄: Synergistic CO₂ reduction and antibiotic degradation via interfacial mass transfer and photothermal activation. Surfaces and Interfaces, 77, Article 108037. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfin.2025.108037

@article{d41273bad5dd45aba75ef2916058dfac,

title = "Tri-phase photocatalysis on fly Ash-CaMoO4: Synergistic CO2 reduction and antibiotic degradation via interfacial mass transfer and photothermal activation",

abstract = "A novel floating CaMoO4/fly ash (FA) photocatalyst was synthesized via a facile hydrothermal route, where Ca2+ ions leached from FA{\textquoteright}s glassy matrix react with MoO42− species generated through oxidation of MoS2 quantum dots (QDs), driving in situ crystallization of scheelite-type octahedral CaMoO4 on FA surfaces. The composite exhibits dual photocatalytic functionality: (i) CO2-to-CO conversion (676.3 μmol·g−1, 96.91\% selectivity; 3.47 times higher than gas-solid systems), (ii) tetracycline (TC) degradation (94.9\% in 1 h; 88\% efficiency retention over 8 cycles). The inherent buoyancy and hydrophobicity of FA enable spontaneous formation of a gas (CO2/O2)-liquid (H2O)-solid (catalyst) tri-phase interface, enhancing solar utilization, mass transfer, and ROS generation. Critically, the gray-black CaMoO4/FA achieves exceptional photothermal conversion (80.3 °C surface temperature under 1000 mW·cm−2 irradiation within 180 s), lowering activation barriers and accelerating reaction kinetics. Reaction mechanisms were elucidated through in situ spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. This work establishes a waste-derived tri-phase platform for sustainable CO2 valorization and water remediation.",

keywords = "CO reduction, Mass transfer, Photothermal conversion, Tetracycline degradation, Tri-phase interface",

author = "Ming Cai and Yuanyuan Li and Xu Tang and Yan Yan and Sheng Ji and Chunbo Liu and Guangbo Che and Yue Zhang and Utomo, \{Wahyu Prasetyo\} and Siyu Song and Zhi Zhu and Jun Zhao and Yanfen Fang and Pengwei Huo",

note = "We gratefully thanks to the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 22208127). The Senior Talent Research Foundation of Jiangsu University (No.23JDG030, 22JDG017), and the RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme of Hong Kong (RGC-PDFS-2324-2S04). Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2025. Published by Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2025",

month = nov,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1016/j.surfin.2025.108037",

language = "English",

volume = "77",

journal = "Surfaces and Interfaces",

issn = "2468-0230",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Tri-phase photocatalysis on fly Ash-CaMoO4

T2 - Synergistic CO2 reduction and antibiotic degradation via interfacial mass transfer and photothermal activation

AU - Cai, Ming

AU - Li, Yuanyuan

AU - Tang, Xu

AU - Yan, Yan

AU - Ji, Sheng

AU - Liu, Chunbo

AU - Che, Guangbo

AU - Zhang, Yue

AU - Utomo, Wahyu Prasetyo

AU - Song, Siyu

AU - Zhu, Zhi

AU - Zhao, Jun

AU - Fang, Yanfen

AU - Huo, Pengwei

N1 - We gratefully thanks to the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 22208127). The Senior Talent Research Foundation of Jiangsu University (No.23JDG030, 22JDG017), and the RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme of Hong Kong (RGC-PDFS-2324-2S04). Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier B.V.

PY - 2025/11/15

Y1 - 2025/11/15

N2 - A novel floating CaMoO4/fly ash (FA) photocatalyst was synthesized via a facile hydrothermal route, where Ca2+ ions leached from FA’s glassy matrix react with MoO42− species generated through oxidation of MoS2 quantum dots (QDs), driving in situ crystallization of scheelite-type octahedral CaMoO4 on FA surfaces. The composite exhibits dual photocatalytic functionality: (i) CO2-to-CO conversion (676.3 μmol·g−1, 96.91% selectivity; 3.47 times higher than gas-solid systems), (ii) tetracycline (TC) degradation (94.9% in 1 h; 88% efficiency retention over 8 cycles). The inherent buoyancy and hydrophobicity of FA enable spontaneous formation of a gas (CO2/O2)-liquid (H2O)-solid (catalyst) tri-phase interface, enhancing solar utilization, mass transfer, and ROS generation. Critically, the gray-black CaMoO4/FA achieves exceptional photothermal conversion (80.3 °C surface temperature under 1000 mW·cm−2 irradiation within 180 s), lowering activation barriers and accelerating reaction kinetics. Reaction mechanisms were elucidated through in situ spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. This work establishes a waste-derived tri-phase platform for sustainable CO2 valorization and water remediation.

AB - A novel floating CaMoO4/fly ash (FA) photocatalyst was synthesized via a facile hydrothermal route, where Ca2+ ions leached from FA’s glassy matrix react with MoO42− species generated through oxidation of MoS2 quantum dots (QDs), driving in situ crystallization of scheelite-type octahedral CaMoO4 on FA surfaces. The composite exhibits dual photocatalytic functionality: (i) CO2-to-CO conversion (676.3 μmol·g−1, 96.91% selectivity; 3.47 times higher than gas-solid systems), (ii) tetracycline (TC) degradation (94.9% in 1 h; 88% efficiency retention over 8 cycles). The inherent buoyancy and hydrophobicity of FA enable spontaneous formation of a gas (CO2/O2)-liquid (H2O)-solid (catalyst) tri-phase interface, enhancing solar utilization, mass transfer, and ROS generation. Critically, the gray-black CaMoO4/FA achieves exceptional photothermal conversion (80.3 °C surface temperature under 1000 mW·cm−2 irradiation within 180 s), lowering activation barriers and accelerating reaction kinetics. Reaction mechanisms were elucidated through in situ spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. This work establishes a waste-derived tri-phase platform for sustainable CO2 valorization and water remediation.

KW - CO reduction

KW - Mass transfer

KW - Photothermal conversion

KW - Tetracycline degradation

KW - Tri-phase interface

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105022605491

UR - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468023025022886?via%3Dihub

U2 - 10.1016/j.surfin.2025.108037

DO - 10.1016/j.surfin.2025.108037

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:105022605491

SN - 2468-0230

VL - 77

JO - Surfaces and Interfaces

JF - Surfaces and Interfaces

M1 - 108037

ER -