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Advanced Photocatalytic Material: Synthesis, Characterization and Application
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Advanced Photocatalytic Material: Synthesis, Characterization and Application

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Optical and Photonic Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 February 2024) | Viewed by 9574

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Minmin Xu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Chemistry, Chemistry Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
Interests: surface enhancement; Raman spectroscopy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the gradual increase in energy demand in modern society, fossil energy is being consumed at an increasing rate year-by-year. Carbon dioxide emissions from energy consumption are threatening ecological civilization. Various environmental pollutants are increasingly destroying human living space. Energy transformation is an important measure that must be implemented to achieve global carbon neutrality. Photocatalytic technology is ideal for clean energy production and environmental pollution control. The development of photocatalytic materials is one of the important frontier research aspects in this field. Since Fujishima published his paper in 1972, titanium dioxide has become synonymous with photocatalysis and star material. Over the past 50 years, various photocatalytic materials have emerged, which have laid a foundation for basic scientific research and practical applications.

This Special Issue focuses on photocatalytic materials, including but not limited to the development of new photocatalytic materials, the study of the structure–activity relationships of materials, the implementation of in situ monitoring using advanced characterization technology in the preparation process, and the expansion of the application fields of these materials. At present, photocatalytic technology is not only being applied to energy and the environment, but also to the field of biomedicine. We warmly welcome colleagues worldwide who are committed to the field of photocatalysis to publish papers in this Special Issue and exchange their latest research results with colleagues.

Dr. Minmin Xu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • photocatalytic materials
  • material characterization
  • structure–activity relationship
  • practical application
  • energy transformation
  • environmental pollutants

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 9483 KiB  
Article
Visible-Light-Driven Z-Type Pg-C3N4/Nitrogen Doped Biochar/BiVO4 Photo-Catalysts for the Degradation of Norfloxacin
by Yi Li, Wenyu Wang, Lei Chen, Huifang Ma, Xi Lu, Hongfang Ma and Zhibao Liu
Materials 2024, 17(7), 1634; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17071634 - 3 Apr 2024
Viewed by 932
Abstract
Antibiotics cannot be effectively removed by traditional wastewater treatment processes, and have become widespread pollutants in various environments. In this study, a Z-type heterojunction photo-catalyst Pg-C3N4 (PCN)/Nitrogen doped biochar (N-Biochar)/BiVO4 (NCBN) for the degradation of norfloxacin (NOR) was prepared [...] Read more.
Antibiotics cannot be effectively removed by traditional wastewater treatment processes, and have become widespread pollutants in various environments. In this study, a Z-type heterojunction photo-catalyst Pg-C3N4 (PCN)/Nitrogen doped biochar (N-Biochar)/BiVO4 (NCBN) for the degradation of norfloxacin (NOR) was prepared by the hydrothermal method. The specific surface area of the NCBN (42.88 m2/g) was further improved compared to BiVO4 (4.528 m2/g). The photo-catalytic performance of the catalyst was investigated, and the N-Biochar acted as a charge transfer channel to promote carrier separation and form Z-type heterojunctions. Moreover, the NCBN exhibited excellent performance (92.5%) in removing NOR, which maintained 70% degradation after four cycles. The main active substance of the NCBN was •O2−, and the possible degradation pathways are provided. This work will provide a theoretical basis for the construction of heterojunction photo-catalysts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Photocatalytic Material: Synthesis, Characterization and Application)
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13 pages, 3095 KiB  
Article
Photoresponsive Activity of the Zn0.94Er0.02Cr0.04O Compound with Hemisphere-like Structure Obtained by Co-Precipitation
by Robson França, Francisca Pereira Araujo, Luan Neves, Arthur Melo, Alexsandro Lins, Adriano Santana Soares, Josy Anteveli Osajima, Yuset Guerra, Luciano Costa Almeida and Ramón Raudel Peña-Garcia
Materials 2023, 16(4), 1446; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16041446 - 9 Feb 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2022
Abstract
In this work, a ZnO hemisphere-like structure co-doped with Er and Cr was obtained by the co-precipitation method for photocatalytic applications. The dopant’s effect on the ZnO lattice was investigated using X-ray diffraction, Raman, photoluminescence, UV-Vis and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy techniques. [...] Read more.
In this work, a ZnO hemisphere-like structure co-doped with Er and Cr was obtained by the co-precipitation method for photocatalytic applications. The dopant’s effect on the ZnO lattice was investigated using X-ray diffraction, Raman, photoluminescence, UV-Vis and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy techniques. The photocatalytic response of the material was analyzed using methylene blue (MB) as the model pollutant under UV irradiation. The wurtzite structure of the Zn0.94Er0.02Cr0.04O compound presented distortions in the lattice due to the difference between the ionic radii of the Cr3+, Er3+ and Zn2+ cations. Oxygen vacancy defects were predominant, and the energy competition of the dopants interfered in the band gap energy of the material. In the photocatalytic test, the MB degradation rate was 42.3%. However, using optimized H2O2 concentration, the dye removal capacity reached 90.1%. Inhibitor tests showed that •OH radicals were the main species involved in MB degradation that occurred without the formation of toxic intermediates, as demonstrated in the ecotoxicity assays in Artemia salina. In short, the co-doping with Er and Cr proved to be an efficient strategy to obtain new materials for environmental remediation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Photocatalytic Material: Synthesis, Characterization and Application)
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14 pages, 18830 KiB  
Article
MoS2/Au Heterojunction Catalyst for SERS Monitoring of a Fenton-like Reaction
by Qian Wei, Beibei Lu, Qing Yang, Can Shi, Yulan Wei, Minmin Xu, Chenjie Zhang and Yaxian Yuan
Materials 2023, 16(3), 1169; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031169 - 30 Jan 2023
Viewed by 2211
Abstract
Fenton technology is one of advanced oxidation process (AOP) methods to treat wastewater through chemical oxidation. Due to the limitations of classical iron-based catalysts, it is still challenging to find suitable catalysts for Fenton-like reactions. Here, MoS2/Au heterojunctions were successfully synthesized [...] Read more.
Fenton technology is one of advanced oxidation process (AOP) methods to treat wastewater through chemical oxidation. Due to the limitations of classical iron-based catalysts, it is still challenging to find suitable catalysts for Fenton-like reactions. Here, MoS2/Au heterojunctions were successfully synthesized by reduction of chloroauric acid in the solution of layered MoS2 prepared by hydrothermal method. As a model molecule, methylene blue (MB) was used as the species to be degraded to evaluate the performance of the catalyst. It was determined by UV–visible spectra that the optimal catalyst can be obtained when MoS2 (mg): HAuCl4 (wt. % mL) is 2:2. The Fenton-like reaction process was monitored by introducing highly sensitive surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The results show that MB can be degraded by 83% in the first 10 min of the reaction, indicating that MoS2/Au has good catalytic performance. In addition, as a fingerprint spectrum, SERS was used to preliminarily analyze the molecular structure changes during the degradation process. The result showed that C-N-C bond was easier to break than the C-S-C bond. NH2 group and the fused ring were destroyed at the comparable speed at the first 30 min. In terms of application applicability, it was showed that MB degradation had exceeded 95% at all the three pH values of 1.4, 5.0, and 11.1 after the reaction was carried out for 20 min. The test and analysis of the light environment showed that the catalytic efficiency was significantly improved in the natural light of the laboratory compared to dark conditions. The possible mechanism based on ·OH and ·O2− from ESR data was proposed. In addition, it was demonstrated to be a first-order reaction from the perspective of kinetics. This study made a positive contribution to broaden of the applicable conditions and scope of Fenton-like reaction catalysts. It is expected to be used as a non-iron catalyst in practical industrial applications. From the perspective of detection method, we expect to develop SERS as a powerful tool for the in situ monitoring of Fenton-like reactions, and to further deepen our understanding of the mechanism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Photocatalytic Material: Synthesis, Characterization and Application)
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13 pages, 2428 KiB  
Article
(Cd,Mn)S in the Composite Photocatalyst: Zinc Blende and Wurtzite Particles or Integrowth of These Two Modifications?
by Svetlana Cherepanova and Ekaterina Kozlova
Materials 2023, 16(2), 692; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16020692 - 10 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1510
Abstract
In this study, the crystalline structure and particle shape of Cd1−xMnxS (x~0.3) in the composite photocatalysts prepared by hydrothermal synthesis at different temperatures (T = 80, 100, 120, and 140 °C) were analyzed. Along with mixed Cd–Mn sulfide, the [...] Read more.
In this study, the crystalline structure and particle shape of Cd1−xMnxS (x~0.3) in the composite photocatalysts prepared by hydrothermal synthesis at different temperatures (T = 80, 100, 120, and 140 °C) were analyzed. Along with mixed Cd–Mn sulfide, the catalysts contain a small amount of β-Mn3O4. XRD patterns of (Cd,Mn)S have features inherent to both cubic zinc blende and hexagonal wurtzite structure. Moreover, XRD peaks are anisotropically broadened. First, the heterogeneous (or two-phased) model was considered by the commonly used Rietveld method. Phase ratio, average crystallite sizes, and strains for both phases were formally determined. However, it was shown that this model is not correct because relatively narrow and broad peaks cannot be fitted simultaneously. Then, the homogeneous model was tested by Debye Function Analysis. This model assumes that particles are statistically homogeneous, but each particle contains lamellar intergrowth of zinc blende and wurtzite modifications. The probability of stacking faults, as well as the average radii of spherical and ellipsoidal particles, were varied. It was shown that nanocrystalline Cd0.7Mn0.3S particles have an ellipsoidal shape. Ellipsoids are elongated along the direction normal to the plane of defects. An increase in the hydrothermal synthesis temperature from 80 °C to 140 °C leads to an enlargement of particles and a gradual decrease in the probability of stacking faults in the wurtzite structure from 0.47 to 0.36. Therefore, with increasing temperature, the structure of (Cd,Mn)S nanoparticles transforms from almost random polytype cubic/hexagonal (ZB:WZ = 47:53) to a preferably hexagonal structure (ZB:WZ = 36:64). Mn2+ ions facilitate CdS phase transformation from zinc blende to wurtzite structure. There is no direct correlation between the structure and photocatalytic activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Photocatalytic Material: Synthesis, Characterization and Application)
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Review

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29 pages, 3116 KiB  
Review
Advances in Computational Methods for Modeling Photocatalytic Reactions: A Review of Recent Developments
by Sergey Gusarov
Materials 2024, 17(9), 2119; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17092119 - 30 Apr 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2368
Abstract
Photocatalysis is a fascinating process in which a photocatalyst plays a pivotal role in driving a chemical reaction when exposed to light. Its capacity to harness light energy triggers a cascade of reactions that lead to the formation of intermediate compounds, culminating in [...] Read more.
Photocatalysis is a fascinating process in which a photocatalyst plays a pivotal role in driving a chemical reaction when exposed to light. Its capacity to harness light energy triggers a cascade of reactions that lead to the formation of intermediate compounds, culminating in the desired final product(s). The essence of this process is the interaction between the photocatalyst’s excited state and its specific interactions with reactants, resulting in the creation of intermediates. The process’s appeal is further enhanced by its cyclic nature—the photocatalyst is rejuvenated after each cycle, ensuring ongoing and sustainable catalytic action. Nevertheless, comprehending the photocatalytic process through the modeling of photoactive materials and molecular devices demands advanced computational techniques founded on effective quantum chemistry methods, multiscale modeling, and machine learning. This review analyzes contemporary theoretical methods, spanning a range of lengths and accuracy scales, and assesses the strengths and limitations of these methods. It also explores the future challenges in modeling complex nano-photocatalysts, underscoring the necessity of integrating various methods hierarchically to optimize resource distribution across different scales. Additionally, the discussion includes the role of excited state chemistry, a crucial element in understanding photocatalysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Photocatalytic Material: Synthesis, Characterization and Application)
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