Article
Chemistry, Physical
Na Wang, Yong-Shuai Zhang, Dong-Dong Wei, Hui-Min Duan, Liu-Meng Mo, Hong-Yan Wang
Summary: Modulating the electrolyte can tailor the activity and selectivity for PEC water splitting. In this study, we used carbon quantum dots (CQDs) solutions with aliphatic amino acids as precursors to enhance H2O2 accumulation on a BiVO4 photoanode via PEC water oxidation. The results showed that CQDs solution can adjust the catalytic voltage location and achieve efficient charge separation. Moreover, CQDs could regulate H2O2 generation and retard its decomposition, leading to a high H2O2 production rate and Faraday efficiency.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bin Cai, Martin Axelsson, Shaoqi Zhan, Mariia V. Pavliuk, Sicong Wang, Jingguo Li, Haining Tian
Summary: This study reports the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO in aqueous solution using polymer dots (Pdots) without the need for additional co-catalysts. The Pdots showed high CO production rate and selectivity, and maintained stability after repeated cycles of CO2 re-purging. Mechanistic study revealed the process of the photocatalytic reaction and highlighted the potential application of organic Pdots for CO2 reduction.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kang Hu, Ryo Shirakashi
Summary: Saccharides can alter the dynamics of water in solution, thus delaying the deterioration of biomolecules. Molecular dynamics simulations show that the rotational relaxation time of water in saccharide solutions is exponentially proportional to its residence time. Moreover, solutes with larger dipole moments require shorter residence times to achieve a tenfold increase in relaxation time. Water residence time in sugar solutions follows a Gaussian distribution, indicating a longer relaxation time distribution with a larger hydration layer volume. The study concludes that protective agents with larger specific surface areas and dipole moments are effective in retarding water rotational relaxation.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Xinzhu Pang, Nathan Skillen, Nimal Gunaratne, David W. Rooney, Peter K. J. Robertson
Summary: Phthalate esters, commonly used as plasticizers, have endocrine-disrupting effects, leading to a need for efficient removal technologies. Semiconductor photocatalysis is considered a promising solution for degradation of phthalate esters.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nada Ashraf Azab, Mohamed Mokhtar Mohamed
Summary: This study aims to generate significant amounts of H-2 and O-2 through water splitting using nonprecious metal photoelectrocatalysts. A black titanium/carbon nitride (BT) material is synthesized and mixed with graphene foam (GF) at different weight percentages. The 10% GF/BT catalyst demonstrates superior performance in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and displays perfect water splitting. The activity of the catalyst in different media is assessed and discussed based on its structural characteristics.
JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY A-CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shahin Saleh, Sepideh Mohammadnejad, Hossein Khorgooei, Maryam Otadi
Summary: A bentonite/chitosan/titania composite material was developed for arsenic removal, showing high efficiency and good recyclability. The addition of TiO2 in the composite material was found to improve the arsenic removal efficiency, as demonstrated in the study.
Article
Electrochemistry
Shanshan Qin, Zdenek Badura, Nikita Denisov, Ondrej Tomanec, Shiva Mohajernia, Ning Liu, Stepan Kment, Giorgio Zoppellaro, Patrik Schmuki
Summary: This study investigates a self-assembling photocatalytic system formed when grey titania nanoparticles are illuminated in an aqueous Ni2+ solution, resulting in the production of H-2 under UV light. The research shows that the activation is not a result of deposition of Ni-0 or other Ni-catalyst compounds on the titania surface, but rather due to the light-induced formation of a suitable defect structure on the titania combined with an intermediate Ni(I) electron transfer relay. The resulting Ni+/TiO2/Ti3+ photocatalyst operates without the need for noble metals or sacrificial agents.
ELECTROCHEMISTRY COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Kang Li, Liang Yu, Juanjuan Cai, Lixiong Zhang
Summary: In this study, C@TiO2 core-shell adsorbents with large surface area and hierarchical pores were successfully prepared, showing high adsorption capacity for cationic dyes. The adsorbents maintained high adsorption capacity after multiple cycles, demonstrating potential practical applications.
MICROPOROUS AND MESOPOROUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Mohamed S. Atrees, Ebraheim E. Ebraheim, Mohamed E. M. Ali, Yasser M. Khawassek, Mohamed S. Mahmoud, Mohammad M. Almutairi
Summary: The study successfully improved the photocatalytic activity of titanium dioxide under visible light by doping cobalt and nickel in graphene oxide. The optimal ratio of GO:Ni:TiO2 was found to be 10:1:2, while increasing the TiO2 ratio decreased performance in one catalyst but increased it in another. The synergistic effect of Ni/Co and GO supported TiO2 mainly contributed to the remarkably enhanced photocatalytic performance under visible light.
ENERGY SOURCES PART A-RECOVERY UTILIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Sethumathavan Vadivel, Bappi Paul, Harshavardhan Mohan
Summary: In this study, a one-dimensional iron oxychloride (FeOCl) needles embedded on the surface of Bi5O7Br squares were successfully synthesized to form a core-shell structured FeOCl/Bi5O7Br heterojunction. Various analytical techniques confirmed the successful formation of core-shell FeOCl/Bi5O7Br nanocrystals. The core-shell structure significantly improved visible light absorption and charge separation efficiency, leading to enhanced photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under visible light.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
N. Khorasanipour, P. Iranmanesh, S. Saeednia, Sh. Tabatabai Yazdi
Summary: A novel ZnS/MoS2/Fe3O4 magnetic nanocomposite was synthesized and characterized. The nanocomposite showed increased photocatalytic efficiency compared to the binary one, thanks to reduced electron-hole recombination and band gap energy. It also demonstrated stable recycling performances due to its magnetic properties.
SURFACES AND INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Truong Thi Phuong Nguyet Xuan Trinh, Nguyen Thi Huong Giang, Le Minh Huong, Doan Ba Thinh, Nguyen Minh Dat, Dinh Ngoc Trinh, Nguyen Duy Hai, Doan Thi Yen Oanh, Hoang Minh Nam, Mai Thanh Phong, Nguyen Huu Hieu
Summary: Titanium dioxide/graphene aerogel was synthesized and characterized. The photocatalytic performance of TiO2/GA was studied, and its potential application in wastewater treatment was demonstrated.
JOURNAL OF SCIENCE-ADVANCED MATERIALS AND DEVICES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Hamid Shirzadi, Alireza Nezamzadeh-Ejhieh, Majid Kolandoozan
Summary: This study investigated the synthesis of Bi2O3 using a simple chemical route with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PP) as a surfactant. The sample was characterized using XRD, FTIR, and DRS techniques, and its pHpzc was determined to be around 9.5. The crystallite size of the synthesized sample was estimated to be approximately 45 nm and 14 nm using the Scherrer and Williamson-Hall models, respectively. The band gap energy was estimated to be 2.98 eV based on the adsorption edge wavelength, while using the Kubelka-Munk theory, Eg-values of 3.21, 3.13, 3.27, and 3.24 eV were obtained for n-values of 2, 1/2, 3/2, and 3, respectively. The photocatalytic performance of Bi2O3 NPs was evaluated against phenazopyridine as a model pollutant. The optimized experimental parameters included an adsorbent dosage of 0.7 g/L, contact time of 60 min, pH 7, illumination time of 60 min, and CPP of 20 ppm. The photocatalytic kinetics model followed the pseudo-first order kinetic model.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hongyuan Li, Bowen Zhang, Bo Zhang, Hari Bala, Xiangli An, Nian Sha, Zeyu Sun, Wei Zhang, Zhanying Zhang
Summary: All-inorganic perovskite materials with unique photoelectric properties have attracted attention in the field of photocatalysts. However, the poor stability of perovskite quantum dots hinders their practical applications. By coating CsPbBr3 quantum dots with Sn-TiO2, the stability of inorganic perovskite materials is improved. The resulting CsPbBr3/Sn-TiO2 nanocrystals show excellent dispersion and enhanced photocatalytic performance, making them suitable for environmental governance.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Qing Sun, Yingjie Zhao, Feng Qin, Jian Zhang, Bin Wang, Huijian Ye, Jiawei Sheng
Summary: BiVO4/HNTs hybrid photocatalysts were synthesized by liquid phase precipitation using HNTs as supporter and Bi(NO3)5H(2)O as resource of Bi. Characterization analysis showed that increasing calcination temperature can affect the crystallization, specific surface area and morphology of BiVO4/HNTs, which in turn influence the photoactivity. The sample calcined at 400 degrees Celsius exhibited the best photocatalytic performance for dye degradation under simulated solar light.