Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ravi Teja Mittireddi, Nisha Hiralal Makani, Deepak G. Prajapati, Abhay Raj Singh Gautam, Rupak Banerjee, Emila Panda
Summary: This study focuses on quantifying the impact of microstructure on the functionality of titanium dioxide films caused by minor changes in the fabrication process. Thin titanium dioxide films are deposited using sputtering with variations in target composition and working environment. Various characterization techniques are employed to quantitatively analyze the phase, chemical constitution, composition, thickness, roughness, density, etc. of the films and their link to electronic structure, electrical, optical, and surface characteristics. The insights from this study can guide the experimental design for fabricating films with desired functionalities by considering the tolerance range.
MATERIALS CHARACTERIZATION
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Xun Geng, Tianci Chang, Jiaxin Fan, Yu Wang, Xiaotian Wang, Yunlong Sun, Premkumar Selvarajan, Chuang Liu, Chun-Ho Lin, Xiaolin Wang, Jack Yang, Zhenxiang Cheng, Kourosh Kalantar-Zadeh, Xun Cao, Danyang Wang, Ajayan Vinu, Jiabao Yi, Tom Wu
Summary: Cobalt-doped VO2 thin films were successfully fabricated in this study, with the highest doping concentration reducing the transition temperature of VO2 and increasing the luminous transmittance. Experimental and modeling analysis provided a comprehensive explanation of the effects of cobalt doping on VO2 properties, highlighting the promising future of cobalt-doped VO2 in smart window applications.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Sergio Belda-Marco, Maria Angeles Lillo-Rodenas, Maria Carmen Roman-Martinez
Summary: TiO2-Cu photocatalysts containing different copper species were used for the photoreforming of cellulose in water at room temperature with UV light. Copper was found to have a positive effect, with a mixture of Cu(I) and Cu(II) species favoring the process. Among the catalysts, the one prepared by simple impregnation without heat treatment showed the highest hydrogen production.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Chaehun Lim, Ha-Rim An, Seongmin Ha, Seongjae Myeong, Chung Gi Min, Hea-Jong Chung, Byoungchul Son, Chang-Yeon Kim, Ji-In Park, Hyeran Kim, Hyun Uk Lee, Young-Seak Lee
Summary: We propose an underwater plasma method to produce nanoporous N-doped TiO2 (N-TiO2) photocatalysts with high reactivity in the visible light range. The unique energy input of this technology enables the synthesis, crystallization, doping, and porosity of TiO2 within minutes. The resulting N-TiO2 demonstrates a nanoporous structure with doped N atoms, which leads to narrow bandgap, effective charge-carrier separation, and enhanced light absorbing ability. The N-TiO2 photocatalysts exhibit efficient photocatalytic activities and excellent antibacterial ability, making them suitable for environmental and biomedical applications.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Fangyuan Liu, Han Cao, Luyi Xu, Hui Fu, Shiyong Sun, Zijun Xiao, Caiheng Sun, Xing Long, Yongqing Xia, Shengjie Wang
Summary: In this study, a novel N-TiO2@C photocatalyst was synthesized through a simple glycine doping method. The photocatalyst exhibited an upward shifted conduction band, a narrowed band gap, and inhibited recombination of photoinduced electron-hole pairs. It showed higher visible light response and significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity in the production of NADH by photomediated reduction of NAD(+) without an electron mediator. The yield of NADH was up to 70.3%, far greater than that of undoped TiO2, and stabilized at around 60% after 10 cycles. The feasibility of coupling NADH regeneration with enzymatic reaction was also demonstrated in aldehyde reduction.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Albina A. Valeeva, Irina B. Dorosheva, Ekaterina A. Kozlova, Anna A. Sushnikova, Anna Yu Kurenkova, Andrey A. Saraev, Hartrmuth Schroettner, Andrey A. Rempel
Summary: In this study, titanium foil was anodized to grow titanium dioxide nanotubes (TiO2 NT) using an original technique. After calcination and platinization, the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 NT was significantly enhanced due to the unique morphology and large specific surface area, leading to a high rate of separation of photogenerated excited electrons and holes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Nguyen Duc Manh, Shuoping Ding, Nghiem Thi Thuong, Nguyen Van Anh, Esteban Mejia
Summary: A facile route for synthesizing vanadium-doped TiO2 photocatalysts was developed, and the physicochemical properties of the prepared samples were characterized by different methods. The V-doped catalysts showed significantly enhanced photodegradation activity towards trichloroethylene compared to undoped TiO2 under aerobic conditions. Importantly, these V-doped catalysts exhibited high activity under both ultraviolet and visible light irradiation, and they were also recyclable for at least four consecutive runs without any activity loss.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nagmani, D. Pravarthana, A. Tyagi, T. C. Jagadale, W. Prellier, D. K. Aswal
Summary: A highly selective and sensitive hydrogen sulfide sensor based on nanocrystalline TiO2 thin film on a silicon substrate was developed, showing exceptional sensor response and stability at different H2S gas concentrations. The surface roughness and defects of the TiO2 film were found to play a significant role in achieving better selectivity and sensitivity properties for the sensor.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Miquel Torras, Pau Molet, Lluis Soler, Jordi Llorca, Anna Roig, Agustin Mihi
Summary: The study uses a light-trapping scheme to increase the light-harvesting efficiency of TiO2 semiconductors, improving photocatalytic performance for hydrogen production, and may open new avenues in solar harvesting.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Anna Kot, Marta Radecka, Dominik Dorosz, Katarzyna Zakrzewska
Summary: TiO2 thin films containing erbium were deposited by RF magnetron sputtering under ultrahigh vacuum conditions, showing homogeneous structure and high transparency, but with a significant 0.4 eV blue shift. Near-infrared to visible up-conversion was demonstrated, along with strong green photoluminescence upon photon absorption.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Katarzyna Plachete, Anna Kot, Joanna Banas-Gac, Marcin Zajac, Marcin Sikora, Marta Radecka, Katarzyna Zakrzewska
Summary: Titanium oxide thin films were deposited using rf magnetron sputtering, and their crystallographic structure, phase composition, morphology, and optical properties were extensively studied. It was found that the microstructure of the films changed with the O2 flow ratio, and promising photoanode materials for green hydrogen generation were identified.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
E. Luevanoo-Hipolito, Daniel Alejandro Torres-Alvarez, Leticia M. Torres-Martinez
Summary: Thin films of BiOI photocatalysts were successfully synthesized via a one-pot microwave-hydrothermal method, demonstrating excellent electrical and optical properties. These films show great potential in generating valuable compounds, such as HCOOH, CH3OH, H2, and NH3, through photocatalysis under visible light. The addition of 3% wt. calcium gluconate as a sacrificial agent significantly enhances H2 production, reaching a continuous rate of 1.8 mmoles g-1 h-1.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Luis A. Cipriano, Giovanni Di Liberto, Sergio Tosoni, Gianfranco Pacchioni
Summary: Composite materials made of low-band-gap semiconductors covered by thin oxide layers are increasingly used in solar cells and photocatalysis, with InP/TiO2 heterojunctions showing high efficiency due to visible light absorption and efficient migration of photogenerated electrons. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the strong interface chemical bonds make the formation of InP/TiO2 favorable. The system behaves as a type II junction, with the highest efficiency predicted for film thicknesses of 2-3 nm providing a good compromise between favorable band edge alignment and efficient transfer of photogenerated electrons.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Anna Yu Kurenkova, Anastasiya Yu Yakovleva, Andrey A. Saraev, Evgeny Yu Gerasimov, Ekaterina A. Kozlova, Vasily V. Kaichev
Summary: This study proposes titania-based photocatalysts modified with copper compounds for hydrogen evolution and tests their photocatalytic activity. The synthesized photocatalysts are characterized using various methods, and the results show that the heat-treated and copper oxide deposited photocatalysts exhibit high activity under both UV and visible light irradiation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Aleksandra Pollap, Jaros law Serafin, Isabel Serrano, Joanna Srenscek-Nazzal, Jordi Llorca
Summary: In this work, novel Pt-Cu-TiO2 composites modified with rGO were developed as promising photocatalysts for the generation of hydrogen. The partial replacement of platinum with copper lowered the cost of hydrogen photoproduction while maintaining high efficiency. The additional modification with rGO successfully boosted the amount of generated H2.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)