Review
Chemistry, Physical
Rashmi Acharya, Shaktiswarup Pati, Kulamani Parida
Summary: The utilization of solar energy through semiconductor mediated photocatalysis is a renewable solution to global energy shortage and environmental issues. Spinel ferrite/g-C3N4 nanocomposites exhibit excellent photocatalytic performance and unique features, with potential applications in various fields. However, challenges remain and further research is needed.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xufei Li, Yanling Qiu, Zhiliang Zhu, Hua Zhang, Daqiang Yin
Summary: In this study, a novel recyclable Z-scheme g-C3N4/carbon nanotubes/Bi25FeO40 (CN/CNT/BFO) heterojunction photocatalyst was successfully fabricated. The mechanism analysis indicated that the CNT mediated Z-scheme heterojunction led to enhanced photocatalytic performance, resulting in outstanding separation of photoexcited electron-hole pairs and high redox ability during photocatalysis. The CN/CNT/BFO heterojunction exhibited wide pH adaptability, excellent magnetic recyclability, and stability, showing promising potential for environmental applications.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Fellipe Magioli Cadan, Caue Ribeiro, Eduardo Bessa Azevedo
Summary: This study optimized the synthesis of g-C3N4 using the Response Surface Methodology and successfully prepared g-C3N4:WO3 heterojunctions, demonstrating good materials homogenization and high photocatalytic activity. A mechanism for the heterostructure photocatalysis was proposed based on theoretical and experimental results.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jun Han, Ying Liu, Zongju Tian, Feifan Yu, Xiyin Sun, Wei Wang
Summary: The composite photocatalyst PCN/CCF, prepared by modifying pure g-C3N4 with carbonized cotton fiber, shows excellent photocatalytic performance with significantly enhanced charge separation efficiency and visible light absorption, achieving a degradation efficiency of 90% for methyl orange under visible light irradiation.
MATERIALS TODAY COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Yizeng Zhang, Zhiwu Chen, Jinliang Li, Zhenya Lu, Xin Wang
Summary: By rational oxygen doping, the band structure of g-C3N4 is improved, narrowing the band gap and reducing the recombination rate of photogenerated carriers. Additionally, the hollow nanotube structure of OCN provides multiple diffuse reflection during photocatalytic reaction, significantly enhancing the utilization capacity of visible light and improving the photocatalytic water splitting performance.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Mengfan Wang, Hongliang Xu, Chaoning Huang, Zhentao Cui, Mingliang Li, Bo Song, Gang Shao, Hailong Wang, Hongxia Lu, Rui Zhang
Summary: In this study, g-C3N4/diatomite composites were synthesized by mixing melamine and diatomite in hydrochloric acid aqueous solution and calcining the mixture at 550 degrees C for 2 hours. The CN/DE-10 composite exhibited the best photocatalytic performance, degrading over 95% of RhB solution in 50 minutes, with a reaction rate constant 6.4 times that of pure g-C3N4. The enhanced specific surface area, improved light absorption ability, and reduced recombination rate of electrons and holes contributed to the outstanding photocatalytic performance of CN/DE-10.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ahmed E. Hassan, Mohamed Hammad Elsayed, Mai S. A. Hussien, Mohamed Gamal Mohamed, Shiao-Wei Kuo, Ho-Hsiu Chou, Ibrahim S. Yahia, Tarek A. Mohamed, Zhenhai Wen
Summary: In this study, V2O5/N-deficient g-C3N4 (VO/Ndef-CN) nanocomposites were successfully prepared and characterized by various techniques. The synthesized nanocomposites exhibit efficient bifunctional photocatalytic properties for hydrogen generation and pollutants degradation (dye and antibiotic). The optimized 5VO/Ndef-CN photocatalyst shows improved photoactivity for H2 production, fast degradation of organic pollutants, and high photocatalytic stability under visible light irradiation, attributed to the presence of N defects and S-scheme heterojunction formation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sweta Gahlot, Frederic Dappozze, Shashank Mishra, Chantal Guillard
Summary: Utilizing a high surface area g-C3N4 for photocatalytic degradation of wastewater yields positive results, with performance increasing linearly with concentration and irradiance. For the photocatalytic degradation of HCOOH, the photonic efficiency is around 5.5%.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tianyu Bai, Xiaofan Shi, Ming Liu, Hui Huang, Jijie Zhang, Xian-He Bu
Summary: By growing ZnCdS quantum dots in situ on a g-C3N4 support, the aggregation behavior caused by high surface energy was effectively suppressed. The heterojunction of ZnCdS and g-C3N4 showed excellent optical absorption, abundant reactive sites, and efficient separation of photogenerated electrons and holes, resulting in significantly improved photocatalytic hydrogen production performance.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Tingting Xu, Ping Niu, Shulan Wang, Li Li
Summary: Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is considered a promising photocatalyst, but its high recombination rate of charge carriers is a challenge. This study successfully optimized the photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical activities by constructing a PbTiO3/g-C3N4 heterostructure, utilizing the ferroelectric properties of PbTiO3 for efficient charge separation.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Guangxin Zhang, Jianguang Fang, Haoran Xu, Jingmiao Hu
Summary: In this study, heterogeneous photocatalysts were prepared and characterized to improve the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers. The Bi2MoO6/g-C3N4 composite exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance due to the band structures of g-C3N4 and Bi2MoO6 promoting the migration of photogenerated carriers and reducing the recombination rate of photogenerated electrons and holes. The photocatalytic process was mainly driven by superoxide free radicals.
NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu-Chen Chou, Yu-Yun Lin, Chung-Shin Lu, Fu-Yu Liu, Jia-Hao Lin, Fu-Hsuan Chen, Chiing-Chang Chen, Wu-Tsan Wu
Summary: The systematic synthesis of bismuth oxychloride/bismuth oxybromide/graphitic carbon nitride (BiOxCly/BiOmBrn/g-C3N4) nano-composites using a controlled hydrothermal method showed promising photocatalytic activity for the degradation of crystal violet and 2-hydroxybenzoic acid under visible light irradiation. Various characterization techniques were employed to study the structure and performance of the composite material, and the scavenging effect analysis indicated the main role of reactive (OH)-O-center dot in the degradation process. The proposed photodegradation mechanism provides insights for potential applications in environmental pollution control.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuqian Xie, Xiufeng Yin, Yuzhu Jiao, Yingxue Sun, Chun Wang
Summary: The use of graphitic nitride (g-C3N4) in visible light responsive photocatalysis has gained significant attention in water treatment. Carbon doping has been shown to enhance the photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4. In this study, g-C3N4 was modified with barbituric acid and further treated with reduced graphene oxide and used for the inactivation of ofloxacin-resistant bacteria under UVA-visible wavelength. The results showed that the modified g-C3N4 exhibited strong photocatalytic activity and effectively inactivated the bacteria. Reactive oxygen species played a dominant role in the inactivation process, causing oxidative stress and damage to the cell membrane. This research provides valuable insights into the use of rGO modified g-C3N4 for the inactivation of bacteria under visible light radiation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Jing Yang, Xianqian Zhang, Jieqing Long, Chuanfang Xie, Yongqian Wang, Liang Wei, Xiande Yang
Summary: The AgBr/g-C3N4 composite photocatalyst, with loaded AgBr nanoparticles, significantly enhances the photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4. Optimizing the AgBr content to 25wt%, the degradation rate of MO can reach 90% after 30 minutes. The improvement in photocatalytic performance is mainly attributed to the effective production and transfer of e(-)/h(+) due to the absorption of visible light by AgBr.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE-MATERIALS IN ELECTRONICS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Kejun Bi, Xiaojing Qin, Song Cheng, Sile Liu
Summary: ZnO/g-C3N4 composite photocatalyst is prepared by ultrasonic dispersion method for Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation from wastewater. The ZnO/g-C3N4 showed enhanced photocatalytic activity due to the heterojunction between ZnO and g-C3N4, which promoted the effective separation of photogenerated carriers. The photocatalytic degradation mechanism of RhB conformed to the S-scheme mechanism combined with DFT calculation.
DIAMOND AND RELATED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Konstantinos C. Christoforidis
Summary: Ag3PO4 (AP) was effectively coupled with bare and modified graphitic carbon nitride through a facile wet-chemistry process for the development of hybrid organic/inorganic heterojunctions. The prepared materials showed enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of organic pollutants under visible light irradiation, attributed to the improved charge separation efficiency and the formation of a heterojunction. In-situ EPR spin-trap experiments provided evidence for the formation of a Z-scheme heterojunction. The photocatalytic mechanism was proposed based on spectroscopic data and reference reactions using sacrificial agents.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Luka Suhadolnik, Marjan Bele, Miha Cekada, Primoz Jovanovic, Nik Maselj, Anja Loncar, Goran Drazic, Martin Sala, Nejc Hodnik, Janez Kovac, Tiziano Montini, Michele Melchionna, Paolo Fornasiero
Summary: A versatile approach for producing cluster- and single atom-based thin-film electrode composites is described in this article. The TiOxNy-Ir catalyst developed in this study was prepared from sputtered Ti-Ir alloy with 0.8 +/- 0.2 at % Ir in alpha-Ti solid solution. The prepared catalyst exhibited high oxygen evolution reaction activity and has potential applications in electrocatalysis. The article provides a detailed description of the new method and a high-performance thin film catalyst, along with suggestions for future development in this field.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Paraskevi Lampropoulou, Petros Petrounias, Aikaterini Rogkala, Panagiota P. Giannakopoulou, Eleni Gianni, Spiridon Mantzoukas, Ioannis Lagogiannis, Nikolaos Koukouzas, Sophia Hatziantoniou, Dimitrios Papoulis
Summary: This study examined a natural fine-grained earth material found at Xi beach coastal area of Lixouri in Kefalonia island. It was found that the material is not homogenous and only some parts are suitable for therapeutic purposes or skin care, while others may be harmful. The samples were analyzed using various techniques including Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-Ray Diffraction, X-Ray Fluorescence, and Transmission Electron Microscopy. The microbial burden of the material was also assessed. The study suggests that certain parts of this area can be suitable for natural mud/peloid applications.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Review
Computer Science, Information Systems
Maria Bidikoudi, Elias Stathatos
Summary: This review presents the replacement of metal electrodes with carbon electrodes in high-performing perovskite solar modules (PSMs), aiming to overcome the obstacles of high cost and instability of metal electrodes. It provides an overview of the background and current status, highlights the potential of carbon electrodes, and discusses the challenges and future prospects.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Georgios Giotopoulos, Dimitrios Papoulis, Ioannis Koukouvelas, Irini Skopeliti, Polychronis Economou, Eleni Gianni
Summary: Teaching geology under COVID-19 pandemic conditions faced limitations due to lockdown, which hindered face-to-face teaching, laboratory work, and fieldtrips. To address this, new distance learning tools were developed, including a mineralogical mobile phone application for laboratory mineral identification, a flow chart for laboratory rock identification, and exercises on faults and maps. The constructed teaching tools were used in a university course on geology, with positive outcomes in terms of student understanding and learning. These tools can be utilized in distance learning or typical learning conditions to enhance learning outcomes.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Arianna Actis, Michele Melchionna, Giacomo Filippini, Paolo Fornasiero, Maurizio Prato, Mario Chiesa, Enrico Salvadori
Summary: Time-resolved EPR technique was used to study the formation of well-defined spin triplet excitons in carbon nitride. The mobility of the triplet excitons was revealed through the analysis of temperature-dependent TR-EPR signal. It was found that the energy of the spin triplet is approximately 0.2 eV higher than the conduction band edge, suggesting the inversion of singlet-triplet in carbon nitride materials. This study provides important insights into the response of carbon nitride to light and the nature of photoexcited states.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Petr Rozhin, Simone Adorinni, Daniel Iglesias, Tino Mackiol, Slavko Kralj, Matteo Bisetto, Michela Abrami, Mario Grassi, Manuela Bevilacqua, Paolo Fornasiero, Silvia Marchesan
Summary: Carbon nanostructures are modified to improve their dispersibility in aqueous conditions and favor the formation of hydrogels. The morphology and functionalization effects of the nanostructures are studied to understand their impact on the self-healing ability of the hydrogel and peptide fibrillation in aqueous buffer.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mario Daka, Tiziano Montini, Paolo Pengo, Giovanna Marussi, Matteo Crosera, Gianpiero Adami, Juan Jose Delgado, Giuliano Giambastiani, Pierre Fertey, Emiliano Fonda, Lucia Pasquato, Paolo Fornasiero
Summary: This study describes the development of a highly active and reusable palladium-based catalyst on alumina (Pd8/Al2O3), which utilizes an octanuclear tiara-like palladium complex as the precursor to produce isolated Pd clusters of approximately 1 nm in size on Al2O3. The catalyst exhibits high specific activity, allowing for completion of the cross-coupling reaction in 30 min with only 0.12 mol % Pd loading under very mild and green reaction conditions.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Giuseppe Sportelli, Gaia Grando, Manuela Bevilacqua, Giacomo Filippini, Michele Melchionna, Paolo Fornasiero
Summary: In this study, the use of graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) for the photocatalytic radical formylation of anilines is proposed as a sustainable and attractive alternative to current methods. The reaction occurs under mild conditions and employs air as an oxidant. The ability of g-CN to reach an excited state upon visible-light absorption plays a crucial role in triggering the formation of reactive a-amino radical species from anilines.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Giuseppe Gentile, Marc Morant-Giner, Lucia Cardo, Michele Melchionna, Paolo Fornasiero, Maurizio Prato, Giacomo Filippini
Summary: 2H-MoS2 is a promising semiconductor with earth-abundant nature, low toxicity, and low cost. Although it has demonstrated good catalytic activity in various energy-related processes, its application in catalysis for C-C bond forming reactions in organic synthesis remains largely unexplored. The challenges arise from the difficulty of using bulk 2H-MoS2 due to its low surface area, which requires high catalytic loadings for acceptable yields and makes the optimization process expensive and tedious. In this study, we developed a 2H-MoS2-mediated synthesis of valuable bis(indolyl)methane derivatives and optimized the reaction conditions using the Design of Experiments method.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Afroditi Papaioannou, Angeliki Liakopoulou, Dimitris Papoulis, Eleni Gianni, Patroula Gkolfi, Eleni Zygouri, Sophia Letsiou, Sophia Hatziantoniou
Summary: This study aimed to synthesize novel peptide-silver nanoparticle conjugates with enhanced wound healing capacity. Peptides were added during the synthesis of nanoparticles, resulting in improved reaction yield and effective capping. The conjugates exhibited long-term colloidal stability, as indicated by their size distribution and zeta-potential. The scratch test assay showed that the synthesized peptide-silver nanoparticle conjugates had better wound healing capacity compared to free peptides or peptide-free silver nanoparticles.
Review
Computer Science, Information Systems
Christos Falaras, Elias Stathatos
Summary: Advanced engineering strategies have been employed to improve the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells, focusing on interface engineering between the perovskite absorbing layer and the electron transport layer, as well as the perovskite and hole transport layer. Machine learning approaches have been used to validate experimental data and accurately predict solar cell parameters, confirming the significance and potential application of interface functionalization approaches.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
D. A. Chalkias, A. Mourtzikou, G. Katsagounos, A. N. Kalarakis, E. Stathatos
Summary: Inkjet-printing is an emerging manufacturing process for perovskite solar cells with low material wastes and high production throughput. This study demonstrates the feasibility of fabricating high-quality perovskite absorbent layers using an inkjet-printable perovskite precursor ink under ambient atmosphere. The fabricated solar cells show high efficiency and stability.
