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Cutting-Edge Photocatalysis
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Cutting-Edge Photocatalysis

A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Photocatalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2024) | Viewed by 10594

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Natalia Martsinovich

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
Interests: theoretical and computational chemistry; surfaces and interfaces; materials for photocatalysis and solar cells

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Photocatalysis has attracted a great deal of interest because of the ability of photocatalysts to harvest sunlight and drive a variety of chemical reactions. Photocatalytic processes have the potential to solve a variety of environmental problems, ranging from removing pollutants from water and air, to capturing carbon dioxide and converting it to useful chemical feedstocks, and producing hydrogen—a “clean” fuel—from water. All of these processes rely on efficient and selective photocatalysts. One of the earliest photocatalysts, titanium dioxide, is still one of the most important photocatalyst materials, offering high efficiency, low cost, and the ability to tune its morphology. However, it has significant weaknesses, such as poor visible light absorption and detrimental charge recombination. The search for alternative improved photocatalysts has led to a huge amount of research into novel photocatalyst materials, such as mixed oxides, graphitic carbon nitride, polymeric and molecular photocatalysts, as well as modifications of their electronic and optical properties by doping and by control of their morphology. Composite photocatalyst systems, e.g., heterojunctions of metal oxides with efficient light absorbers such as chalcogenides, graphene and carbon nanotubes, and molecular photosensitizers, offer improved light absorption and charge separation ability and therefore result in high photocatalytic efficiencies.

This Special Issue covers experimental and theoretical research on cutting-edge photocatalysts, such as:

  • Novel photocatalyst materials;
  • Doping of photocatalyst materials;
  • Control of photocatalysts’ morphology;
  • Photocatalytic heterojunctions, e.g., Z-schemes;
  • Photocatalyst–molecular sensitizer systems;
  • Visible-light photocatalysis.

Dr. Natalia Martsinovich
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • photocatalyst
  • doping
  • heterojunction
  • Z-scheme
  • photosensitizer

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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36 pages, 5088 KiB  
Article
Eco-Friendly Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles for Quinoline Dye Photodegradation and Antibacterial Applications Using Advanced Machine Learning Models
by Hayet Chelghoum, Noureddine Nasrallah, Hichem Tahraoui, Mahmoud F. Seleiman, Mustapha Mounir Bouhenna, Hayet Belmeskine, Meriem Zamouche, Souhila Djema, Jie Zhang, Amina Mendil, Fayçal Dergal, Mohammed Kebir and Abdeltif Amrane
Catalysts 2024, 14(11), 831; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14110831 - 19 Nov 2024
Viewed by 659
Abstract
Community drinking water sources are increasingly contaminated by various point and non-point sources, with emerging organic contaminants and microbial strains posing health risks and disrupting ecosystems. This study explores the use of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) as a non-specific agent to address groundwater [...] Read more.
Community drinking water sources are increasingly contaminated by various point and non-point sources, with emerging organic contaminants and microbial strains posing health risks and disrupting ecosystems. This study explores the use of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) as a non-specific agent to address groundwater contamination and combat microbial resistance effectively. The ZnO-NPs were synthesized via a green chemistry approach, employing a sol-gel method with lemon peel aqueous extract. The catalyst was characterized using techniques including XRD, ATR-FTIR, SEM-EDAX, UV-DRS, BET, and Raman spectroscopy. ZnO-NPs were then tested for photodegradation of quinoline yellow dye (QY) under sunlight irradiation, as well as for their antibacterial and antioxidant properties. The ZnO-NP photocatalyst showed significant photoactivity, attributed to effective separation of photogenerated charge carriers. The efficiency of sunlight dye photodegradation was influenced by catalyst dosage (0.1–0.6 mg L−1), pH (3–11), and initial QY concentration (10–50 mg L−1). The study developed a first-order kinetic model for ZnO-NPs using the Langmuir–Hinshelwood equation, yielding kinetic constants of equilibrium adsorption and photodegradation of Kc = 6.632 × 10−2 L mg−1 and kH = 7.104 × 10−2 mg L−1 min−1, respectively. The results showed that ZnO-NPs were effective against Gram-positive bacterial strains and showed moderate antioxidant activity, suggesting their potential in wastewater disinfection to achieve sustainable development goals. A potential antibacterial mechanism of ZnO-NPs involving interactions with microbial cells is proposed. Additionally, Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) combined with an improved Lévy flight distribution (FDB-LFD) algorithm was used to model QY photodegradation by ZnO-NPs. The ARD-Exponential kernel function provided high accuracy, validated through residue analysis. Finally, an innovative MATLAB-based application was developed to integrate the GPR_FDB-LFD model and FDB-LFD algorithm, streamlining optimization for precise photodegradation rate predictions. The results obtained in this study show that the GPR and FDB-LFD approaches offer efficient and cost-effective methods for predicting dye photodegradation, saving both time and resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Photocatalysis)
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18 pages, 4075 KiB  
Article
Fabrication of Multifunctional Green-Synthesized Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Using Rumex vesicarius L. Leaves for Enhanced Photocatalytic and Biomedical Applications
by Seham S. Alterary, Ali Aldalbahi, Raneem Aldawish, Manal A. Awad, Hind Ali Alshehri, Zainah Ali Alqahtani, Reem Hamad Alshathri, Noura S. Aldosari, Leen Abdullah Aldwihi, Shorouq Mohsen Alsaggaf, Khulood Ibrahim Bin Shuqiran, Raghad B. Alammari, Bushra Ibrahim Alabdullah, Hissah Abdullah Aljaser and Shaykha Alzahly
Catalysts 2024, 14(11), 800; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14110800 - 8 Nov 2024
Viewed by 536
Abstract
Recently, the use of plant extracts has emerged as an innovative approach for the production of various nanoparticles. Enhancing green methods for synthesizing copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) is a key focus in the field of nanotechnology. This study presents a novel and [...] Read more.
Recently, the use of plant extracts has emerged as an innovative approach for the production of various nanoparticles. Enhancing green methods for synthesizing copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) is a key focus in the field of nanotechnology. This study presents a novel and eco-friendly synthesis of CuO NPs using Rumex vesicarius L. leaf extracts, offering a cost-effective and efficient method. The synthesized CuO NPs were evaluated for their cytotoxic effects against human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells, as well as their photocatalytic and antimicrobial activities. The morphology, size, and structural properties of the CuO NPs were characterized using various analytical techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the pure crystalline structure of the CuO NPs with a size of 19 nm, while transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed particle sizes ranging from 5 to 200 nm. The photocatalytic performance of the CuO NPs was assessed through the photodegradation of crystal violet (CV) and methylene blue (MB) dyes under UV light. The NPs exhibited excellent decolorization efficiency, effectively degrading dyes in aqueous solutions under irradiation. Furthermore, the green-synthesized CuO NPs displayed strong antibacterial and antifungal activities against a variety of human pathogens. They also demonstrated significant dose-dependent cytotoxicity against the HeLa cancer cell line, with an IC50 value of 8 ± 0.54 μg/mL. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Photocatalysis)
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12 pages, 4399 KiB  
Article
Innovative Antifungal Photocatalytic Paint for Improving Indoor Environment
by Samuel Ojo, Yu Hsin Tsai, Anna Cristina S. Samia and Xiong (Bill) Yu
Catalysts 2024, 14(11), 783; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14110783 - 5 Nov 2024
Viewed by 471
Abstract
Indoor air quality (IAQ) has emerged as a global concern due to the increasing presence of indoor pollutants, which have been shown to negatively impact public health. These pollutants stem from various household activities and the materials used in buildings. Previous studies have [...] Read more.
Indoor air quality (IAQ) has emerged as a global concern due to the increasing presence of indoor pollutants, which have been shown to negatively impact public health. These pollutants stem from various household activities and the materials used in buildings. Previous studies have explored several methods to improve IAQ, including gas adsorption, ozonation, non-thermal plasma, and photocatalytic oxidation (PCO). However, these methods often have drawbacks, such as generating secondary pollutants or incurring high costs. This study examines the effectiveness of photocatalytic paint, which is activated by visible light, in controlling fungal growth to enhance IAQ. Experimental results showed that when applied to grown fungi, the photocatalytic paint led to a significant reduction in the size of fungal fibers, as observed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, exposure to the photocatalytic paint reduced the size of fungal hyphae by 37% after 85 h. The paint produced by adding 1 mL photocatalytic paint to 10 mL commercial paint demonstrated high efficiency in fungi removal, i.e., reducing the weight of fungi by approximately 45% within 3 h. These results highlight the potential of photocatalytic paint to significantly inhibit fungal growth, offering a promising solution for improving indoor environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Photocatalysis)
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21 pages, 9630 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Biomedical and Photocatalytic Properties: Synthesis, Characterization, and Evaluation of Copper–Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles via Co-Precipitation Approach
by Maha M. Almoneef, Manal A. Awad, Haia H. Aldosari, Awatif A. Hendi, Horiah A. Aldehish, Nada M. Merghani, Saad G. Alshammari, Latifah M. Alsuliman, Alhanouf A. Alghareeb and Magd S. Ahmed
Catalysts 2024, 14(9), 641; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14090641 - 20 Sep 2024
Viewed by 742
Abstract
In this work, researchers synthesized copper–zinc oxide nanoparticles (NPs) of different shapes and sizes and tested their antibacterial and anticancer effects. The current research used a straightforward method to synthesize copper-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (Cu-ZnO NPs). Next, the photocatalytic, antibacterial, and anticancer properties [...] Read more.
In this work, researchers synthesized copper–zinc oxide nanoparticles (NPs) of different shapes and sizes and tested their antibacterial and anticancer effects. The current research used a straightforward method to synthesize copper-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (Cu-ZnO NPs). Next, the photocatalytic, antibacterial, and anticancer properties of the Cu-ZnO NPs were ascertained. Nanoparticles of Cu-doped ZnO were synthesized using co-precipitation technology. The physicochemical characterization was carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and other imaging techniques. The SEM analysis confirmed that the particles observed by SEM were found to be below 100 nm in size, which aligns with the results obtained from XRD. The size histogram in the figure inset shows that the nanoparticles are mostly round and have a size range of 5 to 50 nm. The XRD diffractograms revealed the classic structure of wurtzite-phase crystalline Cu-ZnO, and the crystallite size is 26.48 nm. Differences in the principal absorption peaks between the FTIR and UV-vis spectra suggest that varying ZnO NP morphologies might lead to spectrum shifts. We used the agar diffusion method to determine how effective Cu-doped ZnO NPs were against bacteria and the MTT assay to see how well they worked against cancer. The photocatalytic disintegration capacity of Cu-doped ZnO NPs was investigated by degrading crystal violet (CV) and methylene blue (MB) dyes under ultraviolet lamp irradiation. A value of 1.32 eV was recorded for the band gap energy. All peaks conformed to those of the Zn, O, and Cu atoms, and there were no impurities, according to the EDS study. Additionally, the nanoparticles had anticancer properties, indicating that the NPs were specifically targeting cancer cells by inducing cell death. At a 100 µg/mL concentration of the synthesized Cu-doped ZnO NPs, the cell availability percentages for the SW480, MDA-231, and HeLa cell lines were 29.55, 30.15, and 28.2%, respectively. These findings support the idea that Cu-doped ZnO NPs might be a new cancer treatment. Moreover, the results show the percentage of dye degradation over different time durations. After 180 h, the degradation of CV dye reached 79.6%, while MB dye exhibited a degradation of 69.9%. Based on these findings, Cu-doped ZnO NPs have the potential to be effective photocatalysts, antibacterial agents, and cancer fighters. This bodes well for their potential applications in the fields of ecology, medicine, and industry in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Photocatalysis)
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14 pages, 4880 KiB  
Article
Enhancement Study of the Photoactivity of TiO2 Photocatalysts during the Increase of the WO3 Ratio in the Presence of Ag Metal
by Sharah H. Aldirham, Ahmed Helal, Mohd Shkir, M. A. Sayed and Atif Mossad Ali
Catalysts 2024, 14(9), 633; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14090633 - 18 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 659
Abstract
Nanocomposites (NCs) consisting of 4%Ag/x%WO3/TiO2, with varied concentrations (x = 1, 3, 5, 7 wt.%) of WO3, were successfully synthesized using the sol-gel process to examine their photocatalytic performance. The synthesized 4%Ag/x%WO [...] Read more.
Nanocomposites (NCs) consisting of 4%Ag/x%WO3/TiO2, with varied concentrations (x = 1, 3, 5, 7 wt.%) of WO3, were successfully synthesized using the sol-gel process to examine their photocatalytic performance. The synthesized 4%Ag/x%WO3/TiO2 nanopowder was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV–vis DRS), photoluminescence (PL), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis to elucidate its physicochemical properties. The photocatalytic evaluation revealed that the Ag/1%WO3/TiO2 nanocomposite exhibits 98% photoreduction efficiency for Cr(VI) after 2 h under visible light due to the impact of the plasmonic effect of Ag atoms. In addition, the Ag/4%WO3/TiO2 shows about 95% photooxidation efficiency for methylene blue (MB) dye after 4 h. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Photocatalysis)
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20 pages, 6133 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of In-Modified TiO2 Composite Materials from Waste Tobacco Stem Silk and Study of Their Catalytic Performance under Visible Light
by Junyang Leng, Yi Zhao, Jindi Zhang, Xiaoli Bai, Anlong Zhang, Quanhui Li, Mengyang Huang and Jiaqiang Wang
Catalysts 2024, 14(9), 615; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14090615 - 12 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 594
Abstract
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) catalysts are primarily utilized under ultraviolet light, and their potential in industrial applications remains largely untapped. To address this issue, our study uses a one-pot impregnation method to prepare a series of In-TiO2/TSS(X) (TSS, Tobacco stem [...] Read more.
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) catalysts are primarily utilized under ultraviolet light, and their potential in industrial applications remains largely untapped. To address this issue, our study uses a one-pot impregnation method to prepare a series of In-TiO2/TSS(X) (TSS, Tobacco stem silk. X, the molar ratio of In/Ti) catalysts. Among them, the degradation performance of the In-TiO2/TSS(2.0) material increased from 13.8% for TiO2 to an impressive 92.9%. By establishing a first-order kinetic model, it was determined that the degradation performance of the In-TiO2/TSS(2.0) material surpassed that of TiO2 by a factor of 24. Structural characterization revealed that the introduction of tobacco stem silk templates did not alter the crystal phase of TiO2 and that the main component of the catalyst remained TiO2. Not only that, an O–In structure formed on the surface of the TiO2, leading to a significant increase in the material’s specific surface area. Furthermore, principle tests were conducted, revealing significant enhancements in its light absorption capacity, intensity, and photocurrent density. Through active species trapping experiments, it was observed that, in the photocatalytic degradation process of this catalyst series, holes (h+) played the primary role, while the hydroxyl ion (·OH) and superoxide ion (·O2−) acted as auxiliary species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Photocatalysis)
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18 pages, 5441 KiB  
Article
Garcinia mangostana L. Leaf-Extract-Assisted Green Synthesis of CuO, ZnO and CuO-ZnO Nanomaterials for the Photocatalytic Degradation of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME)
by Yu Bin Chan, Mohammod Aminuzzaman, Yip Foo Win, Sinouvassane Djearamane, Ling Shing Wong, Samar Kumar Guha, Hamad Almohammadi, Md. Akhtaruzzaman and Lai-Hock Tey
Catalysts 2024, 14(8), 486; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14080486 - 29 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1116
Abstract
The treatment of palm oil mill effluent (POME) poses a significant challenge for Malaysia’s palm oil industry, necessitating compliance with the Department of Environment (DOE) regulations prior to discharge. This study introduces an eco-friendly synthesis method utilizing mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.)-leaf aqueous [...] Read more.
The treatment of palm oil mill effluent (POME) poses a significant challenge for Malaysia’s palm oil industry, necessitating compliance with the Department of Environment (DOE) regulations prior to discharge. This study introduces an eco-friendly synthesis method utilizing mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.)-leaf aqueous extract to fabricate copper oxide (CuO), zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs), and their nanocomposite (CuO-ZnO NCs). The physicochemical properties of these nanomaterials were characterized using various analytical tools and their effectiveness in reducing the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of palm oil mill effluent (POME) was assessed under the illumination of two types of light sources: monochromatic blue- and polychromatic white-light emitting diodes (LEDs). CuO-ZnO NCs demonstrated superior performance, with the lowest energy bandgap (1.61 eV), and achieved a COD removal efficiency of 63.27% ± 0.010 under blue LED illumination, surpassing the DOE’s discharge limit of 100 mg/L. This study offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for synthesizing heterojunction materials, which show great potential as photocatalysts in reducing POME COD to permissible levels for discharge. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Photocatalysis)
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16 pages, 5934 KiB  
Article
Modification of α-Fe2O3 Nanoparticles with Carbon Layer for Robust Photo-Fenton Catalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange
by Muhammad Qasim, Mohamed A. Ghanem, Xuecheng Cao and Xiaojie Li
Catalysts 2024, 14(6), 393; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14060393 - 20 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1095
Abstract
The degradation of organic dyes poses a significant challenge in achieving sustainable environmental solutions, given their extensive usage across various industries. Iron oxide (Fe2O3) nanoparticles are studied as a reliable technique for remediating dye degradation. The objective of this [...] Read more.
The degradation of organic dyes poses a significant challenge in achieving sustainable environmental solutions, given their extensive usage across various industries. Iron oxide (Fe2O3) nanoparticles are studied as a reliable technique for remediating dye degradation. The objective of this research is to improve methods of nanomaterial-based environmental remediation. The solvothermal technique is used to synthesize carbon-modified Fe2O3 nanoparticles that exhibit the capability to modify their size morphology and increase reactivity, and stability for MO photodegradation. Their inherent qualities render them highly advantageous for biomedical applications, energy storage, environmental remediation, and catalysis. The mean crystallite size of the modified Fe2O3 nanoparticles is approximately 20 nm. These photocatalysts are tested for their ability to degrade methyl orange (MO) under Visible light radiation and in presence of hydrogen peroxide reagent. The optimal degradation efficiency (97%) is achieved with Fe2O3@C in the presence of H2O2 by meticulously controlling the pH, irradiation time, and photocatalyst dosage. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the Fe2O3@C nanoparticles, compared to pure Fe2O3, is attributed to the conductive carbon layer, which significantly reduces electron-hole recombination rates. To summarize, Fe2O3@C nanoparticles not only offer a promising technique for the degradation of MO dye pollutants but also have an advantage for environmental remediation due to their increased stability and reactivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Photocatalysis)
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9 pages, 417 KiB  
Communication
Heat-Transfer Analysis of the Promotion of the CO2 Reduction Performance of a P4O10/TiO2 Photocatalyst Using a Black Body Material
by Akira Nishimura, Ryo Hanyu, Homare Mae, Hiroki Senoue and Eric Hu
Catalysts 2023, 13(12), 1477; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13121477 - 28 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1066
Abstract
Since photocatalytic reactions are surface reactions, enhancing gas movement around the photocatalyst could improve photocatalytic CO2 reduction performance. A new approach using black body material to enhance the gas movement around the photocatalyst based on the natural thermosiphon movement of gases around [...] Read more.
Since photocatalytic reactions are surface reactions, enhancing gas movement around the photocatalyst could improve photocatalytic CO2 reduction performance. A new approach using black body material to enhance the gas movement around the photocatalyst based on the natural thermosiphon movement of gases around a photocatalyst has been proposed and confirmed experimentally, but the heat-transfer mechanism of the phenomena has not yet been clarified. The aim of this study is to clarify the corresponding heat-transfer mechanism. This study calculated the temperature of the CO2/NH3 gas mixture around a P4O10/TiO2 photocatalyst using the heat-transfer formula. No difference was found between the temperature increase (Tg) from the temperature at the beginning of the CO2 reduction experiment (Tini) and the temperature of the CO2/NH3 gas mixture measured experimentally via thermocouple (Te) under the following illumination conditions: a Xe lamp with visible light (VIS) + infrared light (IR) and IR only. The heat-transfer model proposed in this study predicts Tg well under illumination from a Xe lamp with VIS + IR as well as under IR illumination only. On the other hand, the difference found between Tg and Te was as large as 10 °C under illumination from a Xe lamp with ultraviolet light (UV) + VIS + IR. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Photocatalysis)
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17 pages, 5597 KiB  
Article
Hollow Nanospheres Organized by Ultra-Small CuFe2O4/C Subunits with Efficient Photo-Fenton-like Performance for Antibiotic Degradation and Cr(VI) Reduction
by Dazhi Sun, Jiayi Yang, Feng Chen, Zhe Chen and Kangle Lv
Catalysts 2022, 12(7), 687; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal12070687 - 23 Jun 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1901
Abstract
Hollow transition metal oxides have important applications in the degradation of organic pollutants by a photo-Fenton-like process. Herein, uniform, highly dispersible hollow CuFe2O4/C nanospheres (denoted as CFO/C-PNSs) were prepared by a one-pot approach. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission [...] Read more.
Hollow transition metal oxides have important applications in the degradation of organic pollutants by a photo-Fenton-like process. Herein, uniform, highly dispersible hollow CuFe2O4/C nanospheres (denoted as CFO/C-PNSs) were prepared by a one-pot approach. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) images verified that the CFO/C-PNS catalyst mainly presents hollow nanosphere morphology with a diameter of 250 ± 30 nm. Surprisingly, the photodegradation test results revealed that CFO/C-PNSs had an excellent photocatalytic performance in the elimination of various organic contaminants under visible light through the efficient Fenton catalytic process. Due to the unique hollow structure formed by the assembly of ultra-small CFO/C subunits, the catalyst exposes more reaction sites, improving its photocatalytic activity. More importantly, the resulting magnetically separable CFO/C-PNSs exhibited excellent stability. Finally, the possible photocatalytic reaction mechanism of the CFO/C-PNSs was proposed, which enables us to have a clearer understanding of the photo-Fenton mechanism. Through a series of characterization and analysis of degradation behavior of CFO/C-PNS samples over antibiotic degradation and Cr(VI) reduction, •OH radicals generated from H2O2 decomposition played an essential role in enhancing the reaction efficiency. The present work offered a convenient method to fabricate hollow transition metal oxides, which provided impetus for further development in environmental and energy applications. Highlights: Novel hollow CuFe2O4/C nanospheres were prepared by a facile and cost-effective method. CuFe2O4/C exhibited excellent photo-Fenton-like performance for antibiotic degradation. Outstanding photocatalytic performance was attributed to the specific hollow cavity-porous structure. A possible mechanism for H2O2 activation over hollow CuFe2O4/C nanospheres was detailed and discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Photocatalysis)
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Review

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29 pages, 4938 KiB  
Review
Review of Bio-Inspired Green Synthesis of Titanium Dioxide for Photocatalytic Applications
by Manasi R. Mulay, Siddharth V. Patwardhan and Natalia Martsinovich
Catalysts 2024, 14(11), 742; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14110742 - 22 Oct 2024
Viewed by 810
Abstract
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is an important photocatalyst that is widely studied for environmental applications, especially for water treatment by degradation of pollutants. A range of methods have been developed to produce TiO2 in the form of nanoparticles and thin films. [...] Read more.
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is an important photocatalyst that is widely studied for environmental applications, especially for water treatment by degradation of pollutants. A range of methods have been developed to produce TiO2 in the form of nanoparticles and thin films. Solution-based synthesis methods offer the opportunity to tune the synthesis through a choice of reagents, additives and reaction media. In particular, the use of biomolecules, such as proteins and amino acids, as bio-inspired additives in TiO2 synthesis has grown over the last decade. This review provides a discussion of the key factors in the solution-based synthesis of titania, with a focus on bio-inspired additives and their interaction with Ti precursors. In particular, the role of bio-inspired molecular and biomolecular additives in promoting the low-temperature synthesis of titania and controlling the phase and morphology of the synthesised TiO2 is discussed, with a particular focus on the interaction of TiO2 with amino acids as model bio-inspired additives. Understanding these interactions will help address the key challenges of obtaining the crystalline TiO2 phase at low temperatures, with fast kinetics and under mild reaction conditions. We review examples of photocatalytic applications of TiO2 synthesised using bio-inspired methods and discuss the ways in which bio-inspired additives enhance photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanomaterials. Finally, we give a perspective of the current challenges in green synthesis of TiO2, and possible solutions based on multi-criteria discovery, design and manufacturing framework. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Photocatalysis)
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