Design of inner-motile ZnO@TiO₂ mushroom arrays on magnetic cilia film with enhanced photocatalytic performance

An active inner-motile photocatalytic film has been explored, which integrates three functional modules, i.e. magnetic cilia, ZnO nanorod arrays and TiO₂ nanoparticles. This new design strategy is a multifunctional key to improving light absorption, interior mass transfer, charge separation and transport simultaneously. When the magnetic photocatalyst cilia mimic ciliary motion like natural beating cilia, the photocatalytic activity can be enhanced because the inner mass transfer is accelerated. Besides, ZnO nanorod arrays is applied in the inner-motile photocatalytic system because that the micro-nano structure can effectively trap the light via multiple reflections. Furthermore, through constructing ZnO@TiO₂ heterojunction, the electron−hole recombination is reduced and the charge transport is improved.