Mid-IR Light-Activatable Full Spectrum LaB 6 Plasmonic Photocatalyst.

Photocatalysts as long-lasting, benign reagents for disinfection of bacteria in hospitals and public area/facilities/transportation vehicles are strongly needed. A common limitation for all existing semiconductor photocatalysts is the requirement of activation by external UV-visible-near infrared (NIR) light with wavelengths shorter than ∼1265 nm. None of existing photocatalysts can function during night time in the absence of external light. Herein, we report an unprecedented LaB 6 plasmonic photocatalyst, which can absorb UV-visible-NIR light and mid-IR (3900 nm) light to split water and generate hydrogen and hydroxyl radicals for decomposition of organic pollutants as well as killing of multidrug-resistant E. coli bacteria. Mid-IR light (2∼50 μm) is readily available from the natural environments, via thermal radiation of warm/hot objects on the earth, including human bodies, animals, buildings, etc. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.