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Catalysts
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Nanostructures for Catalysis: From Synthesis and Characterization to Applications
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Nanostructures for Catalysis: From Synthesis and Characterization to Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2024) | Viewed by 5333

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Zuzeng Qin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of New Chemical Application Technology in Resources, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
Interests: environmentally friendly catalytic processes; 2D materials; synthesis and separation of fine chemicals; photocatalysis; thermocatalysis; CO2 conversion; H2 production; heterogeneous catalysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The unique properties of nanomaterials, such as surface effects, volume effects, and quantum size effects, have attracted much attention in the field of photo(electro)catalysis, which is one of the most promising advanced technologies in the area of catalysis and has laid the foundation for the design and construction of nanostructured catalysts. The design and construction of photo(electro)catalysts with nanostructures can effectively optimize the light absorption capacity, the photogenerated electron–hole separation efficiency, and the surface redox reaction rate. Therefore, finding how to controllably synthesize nanostructures for photo(electro)catalysis is crucial in the field of photo(electro)catalysis. Meanwhile, the characterization of nanostructured catalysts is pivotal to revealing the photo(electro)catalytic mechanism, thus guiding the design and construction of advanced nanocatalysts with excellent photo(electro)catalytic performance. Advanced characterization techniques are used to study the atomic and electronic structures of nanomaterials and track the evolution of the surface structure and adsorbed species of nanomaterials under operating conditions. Furthermore, nanomaterial applications in the fields of photo(electro)catalytic CO2 reduction, photo(electro)catalytic H2 production, and photo(electro)catalytic degradation have encountered many challenges. Therefore, this Special Issue will focus on the latest synthesis strategies, characterization techniques, and various applications of nanostructures for photo(electro)catalysis to reveal the photo(electro)catalytic mechanism and structure–activity relationships and facilitate better design and construction of advanced photo(electro)catalysts suitable for practical applications.

Prof. Dr. Zuzeng Qin
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • photocatalysis
  • nanostructured materials
  • nanomaterial synthesis
  • nanomaterial characterization
  • nanomaterial construction
  • nanophotocatalysts
  • photocatalytic CO2 reduction
  • photocatalytic H2 production
  • photocatalytic water splitting
  • photocatalytic degradation

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 6089 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of ZnPc/BiVO4 Z-Scheme Heterojunction for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline Under Visible Light Irradiation
by Lulu Zhong, Liuyun Chen, Xinling Xie, Zuzeng Qin and Tongming Su
Catalysts 2024, 14(10), 722; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14100722 - 16 Oct 2024
Viewed by 592
Abstract
The construction of semiconductor heterojunctions is an effective strategy to improve the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of organic pollutants. Herein, ZnPc/BiVO4 Z-scheme heterojunction was synthesized via a physical mixing method and was used for the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline (TC) under visible light [...] Read more.
The construction of semiconductor heterojunctions is an effective strategy to improve the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of organic pollutants. Herein, ZnPc/BiVO4 Z-scheme heterojunction was synthesized via a physical mixing method and was used for the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline (TC) under visible light irradiation. Compared with BiVO4 and ZnPc, the 15ZnPc/BiVO4 sample exhibited improved light absorption capacity, and the electron-hole separation efficiency and redox capacity were enhanced due to the formation of the Z-scheme heterojunction. The 15ZnPc/BiVO4 composite exhibited an optimal TC degradation rate of 83.1% within 120 min. Additionally, 15ZnPc/BiVO4 exhibited excellent stability in cycling experiments, which maintained a high TC degradation rate of 79.5% after four cycles. Free radical trapping experiments indicated that superoxide radicals (O2−) were the main active substances in the photocatalytic degradation of TC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructures for Catalysis: From Synthesis and Characterization to Applications)
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15 pages, 14447 KiB  
Article
Photocatalytic Degradation of Paracetamol and Antibacterial Activity of La-Modified TiO2 Obtained by Non-Hydrolytic Sol–Gel Route
by Angelina Stoyanova, Hristina Hitkova, Nina Kaneva, Albena Bachvarova-Nedelcheva, Reni Iordanova and Polya Marinovska
Catalysts 2024, 14(8), 469; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14080469 - 23 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1311
Abstract
The current study aims to synthesize and analyze both pure and La-doped TiO2, and evaluate the photocatalytic and antibacterial activity of as-prepared samples. Doped and undoped samples were prepared by the non-hydrolytic sol–gel method from titanium(IV) chloride, benzyl alcohol, and lanthanum(III) [...] Read more.
The current study aims to synthesize and analyze both pure and La-doped TiO2, and evaluate the photocatalytic and antibacterial activity of as-prepared samples. Doped and undoped samples were prepared by the non-hydrolytic sol–gel method from titanium(IV) chloride, benzyl alcohol, and lanthanum(III) nitrate followed by thermal treatment. Lanthanum content in synthesized samples was 0.4, 1, and 5 mol%. The resulting nanopowders’ structure and morphology were described using XRD, IR, and UV–Vis analysis. The average particle sizes of pure and doped TiO2 were about 6–15 nm and anatase was found to be a dominant crystalline phase in the samples. It was observed that particle sizes decreased on increasing La content. The photocatalytic activity of the pure and La-doped sol–gel powders was estimated in the decomposition of paracetamol in distilled water using ultraviolet light illumination. Doping with lanthanum ions has been shown to increase the photocatalytic properties on the degradation of paracetamol. Furthermore, the annealed catalysts (pure and La3+ doped) showed increased photocatalytic activity and degradation of the analgesic in comparison with non-annealed materials. In both cases, the highest photocatalytic efficiency is observed at the optimal La3+ (1 mol%) concentration. The antimicrobial activity of 1 mol% La/TiO2 was tested against a reference strain E. coli in the presence of ultraviolet light and in dark conditions. The number of viable bacterial cells was determined by a spread plate method, and kill curves were performed. The results showed that photoactivated 1 mol% La/TiO2 exhibited a strong bactericidal effect, and in concentration, 1 mg/mL efficiently killed bacteria at an initial cell density of about 105 colony forming units in 1 mL within 15 min. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructures for Catalysis: From Synthesis and Characterization to Applications)
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Review

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47 pages, 6874 KiB  
Review
Nanoalchemy: Unveiling the Power of Carbon Nanostructures and Carbon–Metal Nanocomposites in Synthesis and Photocatalytic Activity
by Yalini Devi Neelan, Senthil Bakthavatchalam, Shanmugam Mahalingam, Krishnasamy Sreenivason Yoganand, Shunmuga Vadivu Ramalingam, Umamaheswari Rajendran, Rajasekaran Ramu, Tae-Youl Yang, Junghwan Kim and Raji Atchudan
Catalysts 2024, 14(9), 618; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14090618 - 13 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1091
Abstract
Due to a rise in industrial pollutants in modern life, the climate and energy crisis have grown more widespread. One of the best ways to deal with dye degradation, hydrogen production, and carbon dioxide reduction issues is the photocatalytic technique. Among various methods, [...] Read more.
Due to a rise in industrial pollutants in modern life, the climate and energy crisis have grown more widespread. One of the best ways to deal with dye degradation, hydrogen production, and carbon dioxide reduction issues is the photocatalytic technique. Among various methods, catalytic technology has demonstrated tremendous promise in recent years as a cheap, sustainable, and environmentally benign technology. The expeditious establishment of carbon-based metal nanoparticles as catalysts in the disciplines of materials and chemical engineering for catalytic applications triggered by visible light is largely attributed to their advancement. There have been many wonderful catalysts created, but there are still many obstacles to overcome, which include the cost of catalysts being reduced and their effectiveness being increased. Carbon-based materials exhibit a unique combination of characteristics that make them ideal catalysts for various reaction types. These characteristics include an exceptional electrical conductivity, well-defined structures at the nanoscale, inherent water repellency, and the ability to tailor surface properties for specific applications. This versatility allows them to be effective in diverse catalytic processes, encompassing organic transformations and photocatalysis. The emergence of carbon-based nanostructured materials, including fullerenes, carbon dots, carbon nanotubes, graphitic carbon nitride, and graphene, presents a promising alternative to conventional catalysts. This review focuses on the diverse functionalities of these materials within the realm of catalysis materials for degradation, hydrogen production, and carbon dioxide reduction. Additionally, it explores the potential for their commercialization, delving into the underlying mechanisms and key factors that influence their performance. It is anticipated that this review will spur more research to develop high-performance carbon-based materials for environmental applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructures for Catalysis: From Synthesis and Characterization to Applications)
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28 pages, 6021 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in Vanadium-Based Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen and Oxygen Evolution Reactions: A Review
by Haoyu Li, Juan Wu, Mengyao Li and Yude Wang
Catalysts 2024, 14(6), 368; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14060368 - 5 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1784
Abstract
With the intensification of global resource shortages and the environmental crisis, hydrogen energy has garnered significant attention as a renewable and clean energy source. Water splitting is considered the most promising method of hydrogen production due to its non-polluting nature and high hydrogen [...] Read more.
With the intensification of global resource shortages and the environmental crisis, hydrogen energy has garnered significant attention as a renewable and clean energy source. Water splitting is considered the most promising method of hydrogen production due to its non-polluting nature and high hydrogen concentration. However, the slow kinetics of the two key reactions, the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) and Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER), have greatly limited the development of related technologies. Meanwhile, the scarcity and high cost of precious metal catalysts represented by Pt and Ir/RuO2 limit their large-scale commercial application. Thus, it is essential to develop catalysts based on Earth’s transition metals that have abundant reserves. Vanadium (V) is an early transition metal with a distinct electronic structure from late transition metals such as Fe, Co, and Ni, which has been emphasized and studied by researchers. Numerous vanadium-based electrocatalysts have been developed for the HER and OER. In this review, the mechanisms of the HER and OER are described. Then, the compositions, properties, and modification strategies of various vanadium-based electrocatalysts are summarized, which include vanadium-based oxides, hydroxides, dichalcogenides, phosphides, nitrides, carbides, and vanadate. Finally, potential challenges and future perspectives are presented based on the current status of V-based electrocatalysts for water splitting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructures for Catalysis: From Synthesis and Characterization to Applications)
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