Article
Chemistry, Physical
David F. F. Brossault, Thomas M. McCoy, Alexander F. Routh
Summary: A green approach for producing magnetic photocatalysts via direct agglomeration of commercial nanoparticles in emulsion was successfully demonstrated in this study. The aggregation was attributed to charge screening by salt addition. The experiment resulted in magnetically responsive beads with good adsorption and photodegradation properties, and they could be reused after magnetic separation.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Somayeh Sepahvand, Mostafa Bahrami, Narges Fallah
Summary: In this study, the photocatalytic degradation of toxic substance 2,4-DNT using CoFe2O4/SiO2/TiO2 nanoparticles was successfully performed with an efficiency of 88.5% and proper catalytic activity. Hydroxyl radicals were identified as the dominant oxidizing radicals during the degradation process. The synthesized CoFe2O4/SiO2/TiO2 photocatalyst showed potential reusability and effectiveness in the degradation of 2,4-DNT.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jian Wei, Pinghua Zhu, Peixin Chen
Summary: SiO2-TiO2-C aerogel photocatalysts with different carbon loadings were synthesized using sol-gel chemistry. These materials exhibit high photocatalytic activity and adsorption capacity, effectively removing harmful compounds under visible light.
Review
Energy & Fuels
Feiyan Xu, Haiyan Tan, Jiajie Fan, Bei Cheng, Jiaguo Yu, Jingsan Xu
Summary: Solar-driven semiconductor photocatalysis using electrospun TiO2 nanofibers shows great potential to solve energy and environmental crises. The unique unwoven nanofibrous network facilitates mass transportation, making them ideal substrates for growing secondary nanostructures and constructing heterojunction photocatalysts. Strategies to load electron or hole cocatalysts and hybridize secondary semiconductors enhance electron-hole separation, light absorption, and photocatalytic performance of electrospun TiO2 NFs.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Ya-Hsueh Lin, Wenjea J. Tseng
Summary: This study synthesized core-shell composite particles (FATN) with excellent adsorption and visible-light photocatalysis properties. The particles showed high adsorption and degradation efficiency against a dye solution at specific treatment temperatures, and could be easily recycled using an external magnet.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Barbara R. Gomes, Joana L. Lopes, Lorena Coelho, Mattia Ligonzo, Monica Rigoletto, Giuliana Magnacca, Francesca Deganello
Summary: SiO2@TiO2 core-shell nanoparticles were synthesized via a simple and low-cost method and exhibited enhanced adsorption and photodegradation properties for methylene blue under UV light. The nanoparticles showed superior performance compared to calcined SiO2@TiO2 and TiO2 samples. The synergy between the photocatalytic properties of TiO2 and the adsorptive properties of SiO2 contributed to the improved performance.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria-Anna Gatou, Evangelos Fiorentis, Nefeli Lagopati, Evangelia A. Pavlatou
Summary: This study investigated the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B and phenol using TiO2/SiO2 composite nanoparticles under visible-light irradiation. The results showed that the composite material achieved 100% and 43.19% degradation of rhodamine B and phenol, respectively, within 210 minutes. The major reactive oxygen species involved in the photocatalytic degradation were found to be O-2(-), h(+) and e(-) for rhodamine B, and ?OH radicals for phenol. The TiO2/SiO2 composite catalyst demonstrated stable degradation efficiency after five cycles of reuse.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Chi Congcong, Qu Panpan, Ren Chaonan, Xu Xin, Bai Feifei, Zhang Danjie
Summary: In this study, a multi-layer core-shell structure of SiO2@Ag@SiO2@TiO2 was synthesized as a photocatalyst for the degradation of dye pollutants. The optimal coating effect was achieved by using a mass ratio of AgNO3, TEOS, and TBOT to SiO2 at 5:2.4:6:1, and the core-shell structure showed the best photocatalytic activity. The degradation efficiency of the SiO2@Ag@SiO2@TiO2 photocatalyst was close to 93% after 45 minutes of simulated visible light irradiation, and it maintained a degradation efficiency of 90% after 4 cycles of recycling tests. This research has significant importance for water pollution control.
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Carolina de Araujo Gusmao, Leonardo Almeida Diniz, Bruno Ramos, Alan Gomes Camara, Jose Geraldo A. Pacheco, Antonio Carlos Silva Costa Teixeira
Summary: The investigation on TiO2/SiO2 catalysts revealed that the presence of silica significantly enhanced the properties of the catalyst, improving its photocatalytic activity for removing volatile organic compounds in gas-solid photoreactors. This study also showed that a 20%-TiO2 material calcined at 450 degrees C exhibited the best performance among 14 different materials, withstanding continuous photoreaction for 20 hours.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH & DESIGN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lely Ayu Ningsih, Masaaki Yoshida, Arisu Sakai, Kun-Yi Andrew Lin, Kevin C. W. Wu, Hepsiba Niruba Catherine, Tansir Ahamad, Chechia Hu
Summary: An Ag-loaded TiO2-SiO2-Fe3O4 sphere was prepared for the photo-assisted reduction of 4-NP, showing high activity and recyclability, making it a promising material for environmental remediation.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Belen Vaz, Moises Perez-Lorenzo
Summary: Porphyrins have been widely used as photosensitizers in the field of photovoltaics and photocatalysis due to their ability to transfer energy from light-collecting areas to reaction centers, similar to natural photosynthesis. However, while solar cell development has led to continuous improvement in the molecular design of these pigments, these innovations have not been efficiently applied to dye-sensitized photocatalysis. This review aims to explore recent advances in the role of porphyrin structural motifs as sensitizers in TiO2-mediated catalysis, providing valuable insights for the development of more efficient photocatalysts.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sultan Alomairy, Lalitha Gnanasekaran, Saravanan Rajendran, Walaa F. Alsanie
Summary: This study focuses on the application of cinnamon biochar as an active anti-oxidant agent in the titania-cobalt ferrite nanocore-shell structure for wastewater treatment. The results show that the Biochar/TiO2/CoFe2O4 composite exhibits high degradation efficiency against chlorophenol pollutants under visible light, due to its porous structure and charge separation capability. The recyclability and stability of the composite make it a promising candidate for biofuel generation and energy storage devices.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jakub Rusek, Michal Baudys, Sarka Pausova, Yaron Paz, Josef Krysa
Summary: This study focuses on the effects of modifying hydrophilic TiO2 photocatalyst with hydrophobic rare-earth oxides (REOs) on the kinetics of photocatalytic degradation of polar and non-polar substances. The results show that the addition of REOs particles can enhance the degradation rate of non-polar substances, and all types of photocatalysts have a positive impact on overall mineralization.
JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY A-CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Fatemeh Bavarsiha, Saeideh Dadashian, Mehdi Montazeri-Pour, Fardin Ghasemy-Piranloo, Masoud Rajabi
Summary: In this research, magnetically separable photocatalysts with core/shell/shell structures were successfully prepared. The photocatalytic materials exhibited high degradation percentages of methylene blue under UV illumination, indicating their great potential in environmental applications.
PROCESSING AND APPLICATION OF CERAMICS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria Camila Ariza-Tarazona, Cristina Siligardi, Hugo Alejandro Carreon-Lopez, Jose Enrique Valdez-Cerda, Paolo Pozzi, Garima Kaushik, Juan Francisco Villarreal-Chiu, Erika Iveth Cedillo-Gonzalez
Summary: Microplastics (MPs) are plastic particles with sizes between 1 μm and 5 mm that are widely present in aquatic ecosystems and pose risks to marine life and human health. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) involving in-situ generation of hydroxyl radicals have emerged as a potential solution to combat MPs pollution, with photocatalysis being a proven clean technology for this purpose. In this study, novel C,N-TiO2/SiO2 photocatalysts with visible-active properties were proposed and used to degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) MPs. The experiments were conducted in an aqueous medium at room temperature, and the influence of two pH values (pH 6 and 8) was evaluated. The results showed that the C,N-TiO2/SiO2 semiconductors could effectively degrade PET MPs, achieving mass losses between 9.35% and 16.22%.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Anna Grzegorska, Agnieszka Gajewicz-Skretna, Grzegorz Trykowski, Karol Sikora, Anna Zielinska-Jurek
Summary: In this study, the potential of TiO2/Ti3C2 composite fabricated by oxidation of MXene for degradation of persistent organic pollutants was investigated. The synthesis conditions were found to influence the morphology, physicochemical properties, and photocatalytic activity of the composite. The TiO2/Ti3C2 composite obtained by solvothermal route in the presence of hydrochloric acid and ammonium fluoride exhibited the highest efficiency towards acetaminophen degradation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Izabela Malinowska, Pawel Kubica, Piotr Madajski, Adam Ostrowski, Cristina Gomez Polo, Laura Carvera, Waldemar Bednarski, Anna Zielinska-Jurek
Summary: In this study, a 2D/2D TiO2-GO-ZnFe2O4 composite photocatalyst was synthesized using the fluorine-free lyophilization technique and its potential for ibuprofen degradation was investigated. The composite showed enhanced degradation of ibuprofen under simulated solar light and possessed superparamagnetic properties for easy separation. The photodegradation process resulted in the formation of non-toxic intermediates, while photolysis led to the generation of more toxic by-products. Superoxide radicals and singlet oxygen were found to play significant roles in the ibuprofen photodegradation process based on the degradation analysis and electron spin resonance analysis.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Jaroslaw Wawer, Martyna Andrukajtis, Jakub Karczewski, Anna Zielinska-Jurek, Rafal Piatek
Summary: This research paper explores the hypothesis that powdered milk may contain amyloid fibrils. The presence of amyloids in food products has rarely been studied. Various tests were conducted to investigate this hypothesis, and preliminary results showed that commercially available milks do contain fibrils that have characteristics of amyloids. The implications of these findings can be interpreted in both positive and negative ways, as amyloids could be a potential hazard or evidence that fibrils of food proteins are harmless for consumers.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Silvia Mauri, Gianluca D'Olimpio, Corneliu Ghica, Luca Braglia, Chia-Nung Kuo, Marian Cosmin Istrate, Chin Shan Lue, Luca Ottaviano, Tomasz Klimczuk, Danil W. Boukhvalov, Antonio Politano, Piero Torelli
Summary: This study investigates the surface reactivity of a Ni3Sn4 catalyst operating at 250 degrees C for hydrogen production from methanol decomposition. It is found that the catalytic reaction is driven by surface tin-oxide phases, which enhance catalyst durability and H2 selectivity. These findings provide new perspectives for the development of scalable and low-cost catalysts.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Agnieszka Sulowska, Agnieszka Fiszka Borzyszkowska, Karolina Cysewska, Katarzyna Siwinska-Ciesielczyk, Konstantin Nikiforow, Grzegorz Trykowski, Anna Zielinska-Jurek
Summary: This study focuses on the use of organic-inorganic hybrid materials for photocatalytic removal of heavy metals from water. The researchers investigated the effect of the morphology of poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) on the adsorption and photoreduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) under simulated solar light and visible light. They synthesized titanium (IV) oxide/PEDOT composites with different morphologies using a water-in-oil microemulsion method. The composite with PEDOT microvesicular morphology showed the highest efficiency of Cr(VI) photoreduction to Cr(III) and improved photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
S. Kazim, D. Mastrippolito, P. Moras, M. Jugovac, T. Klimczuk, M. Ali, L. Ottaviano, R. Gunnella
Summary: We investigated the challenging CrCl3 surface using photon energy dependent photoemission (PE). By studying the core and valence electrons of cleaved single crystals in either ultra-high vacuum (UHV) or air, we confirmed the atomic composition with respect to the expected bulk atomic structure. The presence of a stable, but only partially ordered Cl-O-Cr surface was revealed by a common spectroscopic denominator. Through analysis of multiplet components, we quantified the electron charge transfer and the reduced crystal field due to the established polarization field. The methodology used in this study can have a significant impact on determining the structure of ordered sub-oxide phases in mono or bi-layer Cr trihalides.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Katarzyna Siuzdak, Jakub Wawrzyniak, Lukasz Harynski, Zuzanna Bielan, Katarzyna Grochowska
Summary: In recent decades, titanium(IV) oxide-based materials have attracted much attention for their stability, corrosion resistance, photocatalytic activity, and modification possibilities. TiO2 nanotubes grown on Ti foil or glass substrates through anodization are commonly used as photocatalysts. Laser annealing has shown promise as an alternative to furnace treatment for converting amorphous nanotubes into crystalline material. However, laser treatment can change the geometry of TiO2 nanotubes, affecting their electrochemical activity. Additionally, surface modification with transition metals and laser treatment can lead to materials with unique photoelectrochemical properties.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Alex H. Mayo, Hidefumi Takahashi, Shintaro Ishiwata, Karolina Gornicka, Jan Jaroszynski, Robert J. Cava, Weiwei Xie, Tomasz Klimczuk, Michali Winiarski
Summary: Research on magnetoresistance (MR) in nonmagnetic materials is an active area in materials science. High-mobility semimetals in single-crystalline form have been the focus for giant, positive MR. This study reports the observation of a very large positive MR in polycrystalline metallic Pt5P2, showing the significance of crystallinity and purity of samples for MR optimization.
ADVANCED ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Elvana Cako, Szymon Dudziak, Pawel Gluchowski, Grzegorz Trykowski, Marcin Pisarek, Agnieszka Fiszka Borzyszkowska, Karol Sikora, Anna Zielinska-Jurek
Summary: Novel phosphorus and sulfur co-doped graphitic carbon nitride incorporated in 2D TiO2 structure were successfully fabricated and applied for solar-driven degradation of pharmaceutical pollutants. The hybrid photocatalysts were characterized and showed improved photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of carbamazepine and acetaminophen. The results suggested that the (P, S)-doped g-C3N4/2D TiO2 heterostructure is a Z-scheme heterojunction, effectively separating photogenerated charge carriers.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Crystallography
Marta Kowalkinska, Jakub Karczewski, Anna Zielinska-Jurek
Summary: In this study, single-phase TiOF2 with various morphologies was prepared by a solvothermal method. The influence of TiOF2 morphology and precursor characteristics on the physicochemical properties of TiO2 were investigated. The experiments demonstrated that the crystallite size of the TiOF2 precursor and the number of fluoride ions used in the synthesis were the key factors affecting the photocatalytic activity of the final TiO2 photocatalyst.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Tomasz Klimczuk, Szymon Krolak, Robert J. Cava
Summary: The electronic properties of bulk Ta-Hf and Ta-Zr body centered cubic alloys, which are potential candidates for superconducting qbits, were investigated. The alloys showed type II strong coupling superconductivity, while elemental Ta showed type I superconductivity. The increase in superconducting transition temperature (Tc) observed in the alloys could not be solely explained by the increase in the density of electronic states at the Fermi level caused by decreasing the electron count per atom.
PHYSICAL REVIEW MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Agnieszka Fiszka Borzyszkowska, Agnieszka Sulowska, Pawel Czaja, Aleksandra Bielicka-Gieldon, Ivar Zekker, Anna Zielinska-Jurek
Summary: This study successfully synthesized multi-doped carbon dots (xCDs) with excellent fluorescence properties from microalga Chlorella pyrenoidosa using simple hydrothermal and microwave-assisted methods. The nonmetal doping in the nanomaterials was confirmed by XPS, while the existence of metals in the CDs was confirmed by ICP-OES and TEM, with Mg, Ca, K, and Na being the dominant doped metals. The synthesized xCDs were used for the modification of ZnO, and their photocatalytic properties were evaluated, showing promising potential for the degradation of carbamazepine.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mateusz A. Baluk, Pawel Mazierski, Aleksandra Pieczynska, Kostiantyn Nikiforow, Grzegorz Trykowski, Tomasz Klimczuk, Adriana Zaleska-Medynska
Summary: Various metal-organic framework (MOF)/TiO2 heterostructures can be obtained by adjusting the hydrolysis and calcination steps of Ti-based MOFs. Modification of the composition with metal nanoparticles can significantly increase the efficiency of hydrogen photogeneration and the photodegradation of phenol. These improvements are related to the excitation of MOFs and TiO2, electron transfer, electron accumulation on nanoparticles, and the generation of reactive oxygen species.
CATALYSIS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Proceedings Paper
Physics, Applied
Frank Elson, Debarchan Das, Gediminas Simutis, Ola Kenji Forslund, Ugne Miniotaite, Rasmus Palm, Yasmine Sassa, Jonas Weissenrieder, Martin Mansson
Summary: For quantum systems or materials, tuning electronic/magnetic properties using external parameters is a common approach for studying their behavior. However, in Muon Spin Rotation/Relaxation experiments, the use of a pressure cell as an external stimulus can result in a higher background signal. To tackle this issue, we have developed a simulation tool called pySRIM to calculate the stopping fractions of muons in both the sample and the pressure cell.
15TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MUON SPIN ROTATION, RELAXATION AND RESONANCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Szymon Dudziak, Agnieszka Fiszka Borzyszkowska, Anna Zielinska-Jurek
Summary: The photocatalytic degradation of carbamazepine, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and phenol was investigated using different facets of anatase photocatalyst. The {1 0 1} facet of octahedral anatase particles exhibited the highest degradation and mineralization efficiency for all pollutants. A correlation model was developed to predict the degradation rate of pollutants based on the exposed TiO2 crystal facet and the chemical hardness of the pollutant. The study also showed that compounds with higher chemical hardness or a higher HOMO-LUMO energy gap reacted faster with the photocatalyst.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
