Article
Chemistry, Physical
Priyanka Ganguly, Syam R. Kumar, Marica Muscetta, Nisha T. Padmanabhan, Laura Clarizia, A. Akande, Steven Hinder, Snehamol Mathew, Honey John, Ailish Breen, Suresh C. Pillai
Summary: A two-step solvothermal synthesis method was successfully used to prepare AgXSe2-TiO2 (X = In, Bi) composites, with DFT study and experimental results confirming their structural characteristics. These composites exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance, with detailed discussions on the delayed charge recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and interface properties.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Huan-Yan Xu, Si-Qun Zhang, Yun-Fei Wang, Yan Xu, Li-Min Dong, Sridhar Komarneni
Summary: Six different shapes of ZnO nanocrystals were designed and synthesized to investigate the relationship between their photocatalytic activities and morphological features. The morphology was found to have great impact on the adsorption performance, photocatalytic activity, and separation efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Ana Da Lama, Beatrice Bartolomei, Cristian Rosso, Giacomo Filippini, M. Montserrat Martinez, Luis A. Sarandeses, Maurizio Prato
Summary: Boron-dipyrromethene complexes (BODIPYs) with notable photophysical properties have attracted increasing interest, particularly in organic photocatalysis. This study investigated the relationship between their chemical composition and photocatalytic activity through a rationally designed structure-activity relationship study using atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) reaction as a benchmark. It was demonstrated that the presence of heavy atoms in the chromophore's core is essential for achieving high reactivity levels, while electron-withdrawing groups at position 8 (meso) undermine the catalytic performances.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ke Zhang, Danqing Li, Hongyang Cao, Quihui Zhu, Christos Trapalis, Pengfei Zhu, Xinhua Gao, Chuanyi Wang
Summary: Introducing cocatalyst is an effective strategy to improve the photocatalytic performance of semiconductors, where novel transition metal carbides and nitrides like MXenes have emerged as a good alternative due to their high surface area and adjustable elemental composition. The performance of MXenes critically relies on their dimensions, as suggested by many theoretical and experimental studies. Understanding the current state of art of different dimensional MXenes in photocatalysis is essential for clarifying the prospects of their development.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Feixue Gao, Dezhe Fan, Muliang Xiao, Hangxi Liu, Yuxin Liu, Jing Zhang, Ming Fang, Xiaoli Tan, Mingguang Kong
Summary: A Bi/Bi2MoO6 nanocomposite with great photodegradation ability to tetracycline (TC) was successfully fabricated through a simple one-pot solvothermal method. The photodegradation of TC was enhanced by the surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) effect, where the light energy was absorbed by Bi-0 nanoparticles and transferred to adjacent Bi2MoO6. The formation of center dot O-2(-) through the reaction of photoelectrons with soluble O-2 and center dot OH was identified as the dominant process in the photocatalytic degradation of TC. This study proposes a highly efficient photocatalyst based on SPR effect, which holds promising application potential in environmental treatment.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kejian Li, Kedong Gong, Juan Liu, Yang Yang, Iqra Nabi, Aziz-Ur-Rahim Bacha, Hanyun Cheng, Jin Han, Liwu Zhang
Summary: Sulfite addition was found to enhance the photooxidation ability of BiOBr and BiOCl, as well as the photoreduction performance of BiOI, leading to improved separation of photogenerated charge carriers and enhanced light absorption, which significantly boosts the photocatalytic efficiency of BiOX.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Xianglong Yang, Xiao Xu, Jian Wang, Ting Chen, Shengyao Wang, Xing Ding, Hao Chen
Summary: Bi2MoO6, a member of the Aurivillius family, has sparked extensive interest in the field of photocatalysis due to its unique structural features and excellent performance. Recent research has focused on surface/interface modification strategies to enhance its photocatalytic activity. The material's photocatalytic applications mainly include environmental remediation and renewable energy development.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ehsan Bouteh, Michael J. Bentel, Ezra L. Cates
Summary: The catalytic activity of a graphene oxide (GO)-TiO2 composite was found to be attributed to a unique mode of PFCA adsorption occurring at the interface of TiO2 and hydrophobic GO, rather than charge separation. The GO-TiO2 composite showed comparable photocatalytic degradation rates to composites containing nonconductive polymer microparticles, indicating that the enhanced activity may occur at any TiO2-hydrophobic interface. Moreover, the polymer-TiO2 composite exhibited less severe chain length dependence in PFCA degradation, suggesting improved adsorption behavior.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rong Dai, Lei Zhang, Jing Ning, Wei Wang, Qiao Wu, Jie Yang, Fuchun Zhang, Jia-ao Wang
Summary: The proposed oxygen vacancy (OVs) and Zn ion doping synergy BiOBr (Zn-VBOB) photocatalyst can more efficiently degrade antibiotics, generating more types of radicals as degradation active species. The mechanism was systematically studied through radical capture experiment and DFT calculation, revealing that the shortened band-gap resulted in easier h(+)-e(-) separation which played a more significant role in generating reactive radicals.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jari S. Algethami, Touseef Amna, Laila S. Alqarni, Aisha A. Alshahrani, Mohsen A. M. Alhamami, Amal F. Seliem, Badria H. A. Al-Dhuwayin, M. Shamshi Hassan
Summary: Environmental pollution is on the rise and has a negative impact on all living organisms, especially humans. The advancements in nanoscience have provided potential solutions to address this issue. Functional metal oxide nanoparticles/nanofibers in nanobiotechnology have shown promising effects in the biological and environmental domains. The electrospinning production of Zr0.5Sn0.5TiO3/SnO2 ceramic nanofibers has been explored for their potential in fighting infectious diseases. Through various characterizations, it was determined that these nanofibers exhibited antibacterial activity and enhanced photocatalytic performance.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hongchen Song, Jing Sun, Tingting Shen, Lang Deng, Xikui Wang
Summary: Bi/BiVO4 with excellent photocatalytic performance was synthesized for the degradation of residual ciprofloxacin. The introduction of Bi led to higher charge separation efficiency and increased generation of active free radicals. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to investigate the degradation pathway of CIP and propose a possible mechanism.
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Jin Bai, Sijia Yan, Zhuxia Zhang, Zhen Guo, Cong-Ying Zhou
Summary: A metal-free heterogeneous photocatalysis using inexpensive graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has been developed for the synthesis of benzothiazoles via intramolecular C-H functionalization/C-S bond formation of thiobenzanilides under visible-light irradiation. This reaction provides high yields of 2-substituted benzothiazoles without the need for a strong base or organic oxidizing reagents, and the catalyst is stable and reusable after five reaction cycles.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Huidong Shen, Mengmeng Yang, Leiduan Hao, Jinrui Wang, Jennifer Strunk, Zhenyu Sun
Summary: This review highlights the importance of defect engineering in semiconductors for improving photocatalytic N-2 conversion efficiency, focusing on the state-of-the-art progress in defect engineering of photocatalysts for N-2 reduction toward ammonia. Key aspects covered include basic principles, defect classification, synthesis strategies, and characterization techniques.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Naiara de Oliveira Dos Santos, Rosa Busquets, Luiza C. Campos
Summary: Water treatment plants' effluents are a major source of microplastics (MPs) and microfibres (MFs) in aquatic environments. Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) show promise in degrading these particles, but more research is needed. This review highlights the impacts of AOPs on MPs/MFs, focusing on degradation efficiency, toxicity, and sustainability. It also suggests the need for standardized analysis methods and further investigation into the operational feasibility of AOPs for MP removal.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Sridhar Gowrisankaran, Guru Karthikeyan Thirunavukkarasu, Hryhorii Makarov, Tomas Roch, Gustav Plesch, Martin Motola, Gilles Mailhot, Marcello Brigante, Olivier Monfort
Summary: TiO2 nanotube (TNT) layers were prepared using electrochemical anodization, and Fe-TNT layers were formed by spin-coating Fe(III) precursor solutions and annealing. The contribution of photocatalysis and Fenton-based processes in the degradation of caffeine was investigated. 67% of caffeine degradation was achieved by 100 mu M Fe-TNT under UVA with the presence of H2O2, with 4% from photolysis, 23.5% from photocatalysis, and 39.5% from Fenton-based processes.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Baoshun Liu, Mengtao Gong, Jun Zhang, Shouqin Tian, Xiujian Zhao
Summary: The study investigated the metal-insulator transition of a polycrystalline VO2 film using simultaneous electric resistance and infrared thermographic measurements. Results showed that infrared thermographic measurement could be a simple and reliable method to study the MIT of VO2 materials.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hong Zhang, Baoshun Liu
Summary: A traditional hydrothermal method was modified to synthesize ultra-long sodium titanate nanobelts and converted to hydrogen titanate nanobelts for preparing self-standing TiO2 nanobelt membranes with photocatalytic activity. Cu-doped TiO2 membranes exhibited decreased photocatalytic activity due to the introduced intra-gap states by the dopant.
Article
Physics, Applied
Baoshun Liu, Zhizhou Wu, Liuyang Li
Summary: The electron relaxations during transfer from nano-TiO2 to O-2 were found to be slow and dispersive due to low transfer probability and multi-trapping transport. The amount of O-2 mainly affects electron transfer by changing p(tr), while light intensities and temperatures affect it by changing multi-trapping transport. The disagreement between simulations and later stage relaxations may be due to additional deep traps with a different distribution contributing to the electron relaxations.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Applied
Baoshun Liu, Liuyang Li, Zhizhou Wu, Xuedong Zhou, Xiujian Zhao
Summary: A quasi-equilibrium (QE) theoretical model is proposed to fit the slow dispersive electron relaxation of nano-TiO2, validated through a Monte Carlo simulation.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhizhou Wu, Liuyang Li, Xuedong Zhou, Ivan P. Parkin, Xiujian Zhao, Baoshun Liu
Summary: The present research investigates the sub-bandgap light photocatalytic response of pristine TiO2 materials and reveals the mechanism behind it. The study demonstrates that sub-bandgap light can promote the generation of electrons and holes through synergistic effects and explains the relationship between photocatalytic activity and temperature and photon energy.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Liuyang Li, Ling Yan, Zhizhou Wu, Xuedong Zhou, Xiujian Zhao, Baoshun Liu
Summary: The study focuses on the dehydrogenation of isopropanol over monodisperse Ag nanocubes, revealing that light illumination can enhance the reaction efficiency without compromising selectivity. Factors such as reaction temperatures, light wavelengths, light intensities, and nanocube sizes are investigated to understand their influence on catalytic yields. Plasmonic non-thermal effect is found to have a low contribution to the light-induced increase in catalytic activity.
CATALYSIS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Physics, Applied
Fei Huang, Mengtao Gong, Shouqin Tian, Xiujian Zhao, Baoshun Liu
Summary: In this study, monoclinic VO2 films were prepared on quartz substrates through thermal oxidation with a vacuum pre-heating step. It was found that the pre-heating step significantly influenced the crystalline orientation and textual morphologies of the films. The orientated film demonstrated better growth direction, uniform nanoparticles, higher light modulations, and sharper electric resistance transitions compared to the untreated film. These differences were attributed to the structural variations of the orientated films.
JAPANESE JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Applied
Jie Luo, Mengtao Gong, Shouqin Tian, Lincan Zhou, Tao Zheng, Xiujian Zhao, Baoshun Liu
Summary: Highly-crystalline W doped VO2 nanofilms were obtained through thermal oxidation of V-WO3 precursors, and their electric and optical properties were studied. The W-VO2 films are composed of rutile and monoclinic phases due to the decrease of the phase transition temperature. The results show that the W dopants lead to a great decrease in the cool-state resistances and their apparent activation energy.
JAPANESE JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Liping Wen, Yao Liu, Yong Liu, Yuping Xu, Baoshun Liu
Summary: This study investigates the effects of vacuum-sealed annealing and ice-water post-quenching on the structures, morphology, and photocatalytic activity of P25 TiO2 materials. The results show that vacuum-sealed annealing decreases the crystallinity and temperature of anatase-to-rutile phase transition, leading to the generation of more defects. Ice-water post-quenching has almost no effect on the crystalline structure and morphology of TiO2. The vacuum-sealed annealing process enhances the photocatalytic activity of anatase phase TiO2, while further ice-water quenching decreases the activity by introducing more defects.
Article
Physics, Applied
Tao Zheng, Lincan Zhou, Fei Huang, Baoshun Liu, Kanit Tapasa, Krongtip Termkoa, Ekarat Meechoowas, Kittiya Plermjai
Summary: The effect of vacuum preheating on the structure, electric, and optical properties of W-doped VO2 films was investigated. Preheating increased the film crystalline orientation and inhomogeneous distribution of W. Preheating at 700°C and 800°C reduced the metal-insulator transition hysteresis due to the preferred film orientation along the (011) direction. At 900°C, the preheated film exhibited an undoped-like metal-insulator transition due to an increase in the inhomogeneous distribution of W. Preheating affected the apparent activation energy of the cool-state resistances and increased the cool-state IR transmittances. Using the Lorentz-Drude model, the conductance electron density and energy band gaps were obtained and discussed. Preheating decreased the cool-state electron density and affected the energy band gaps, indicating a change in the electronic band structure due to W doping.
JAPANESE JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Applied
Baoshun Liu, Xiujian Zhao
Summary: VO2-based thermochromic smart glazes have attracted attention for energy-saving buildings. Multi-layer film assemblies are used to increase visible luminous transmittance and solar light modulation efficiency. This research proposed an automatic optimization method to improve T-lum and ?T-sol, and analyzed the physical reasons behind high T-lum and ?T-sol. The results are meaningful for the design of multi-layer film assemblies according to user's demands.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Wenhao Zhao, Liping Wen, Baoshun Liu
Summary: In this research, the effects of atmosphere on the electron relaxations of undecorated TiO2 and Ag-decorated TiO2 were studied using in situ photoconductance and diffuse reflection measurements. It was found that in a pure N-2 atmosphere, electron relaxation mainly occurred through transfer to residual O-2, with Ag nanoparticles forming a fast electron transfer pathway. The activation energy for electron transfer to O-2 was greatly reduced by Ag decoration. In an N-2 atmosphere containing methanol, the relaxation mechanism changed for Ag/TiO2 as the relaxations decreased with temperature, possibly due to methanol acting as a bridge for hole-electron recombination at the Ag/TiO2 perimeters. Reducing Ag nanoparticle size increased electron relaxations due to increased dispersion and interconnection. However, photocatalytic oxidations showed a decrease after Ag decoration, indicating that they were not limited by electron transfer to O-2.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Wenhao Zhao, Liping Wen, Ivan P. Parkin, Xiujian Zhao, Baoshun Liu
Summary: In this study, the Fermi-level (E-F) shift of the UV-illuminated Ag/TiO2 system under gaseous conditions was evaluated using in situ photoconductance and theoretical analysis. The role of Ag nanoparticles in storing and separating electrons was discussed, and it was found that the E-F of Ag/TiO2 is located deeper in the gap and is less affected by temperature compared to undecorated TiO2. The analysis showed that approximately 46 electrons can be stored in 10 nm Ag nanoparticles under the experimental conditions, and the blue-shift of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in Ag nanoparticles is not related to electron storage.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhizhou Wu, Liuyang Li, Xuedong Zhou, Xiujian Zhao, Baoshun Liu
Summary: The electron transfer to O-2 is a persistent and dispersive process in the photocatalysis over TiO2, lasting for several minutes and following a stretched exponential kinetics. The variable apparent energy barriers (E(i)s) involved in the electron transfer are affected by O-2 amount, light intensity, and temperature, indicating the trap-filling effect plays a role. The slow kinetics of the electron transfer is dependent on the slow rate for an electron transferring from a trap to O-2, and the modulation in trap distribution can increase the photocatalytic activity.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Yongqiang Zhang, Bin Li, Zhe Wang, Shouqin Tian, Baoshun Liu, Xiujian Zhao, Neng Li, Gopinathan Sankar, Shifeng Wang
Summary: In this research, a Zn2V2O7-VO2 composite film was deposited on quartz glass to improve the optical performance, showing enhanced thermochromic performance compared to a pure VO2 film. The composite film exhibited higher T-lum and Delta T-sol due to the formation and uniform distribution of Zn2V2O7, which widened the optical band gap and improved the optical properties.
ACS APPLIED ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2021)