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Nanocomposites as a Promising Type of Photocatalyst
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Nanocomposites as a Promising Type of Photocatalyst

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Inorganic Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023)

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Madalina Ciobanu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department Chemistry of Surface and Catalysis, “Ilie Murgulescu” Institute of Physical Chemistry, Romanian Academy, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: ordered mesoporous silica synthesis and characterization; heterogeneous catalysis; composites; photocatalysis; wastewater remediation
Dr. Gabriela Petcu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department Chemistry of Surface and Catalysis, “Ilie Murgulescu” Institute of Physical Chemistry, Romanian Academy, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: zeolite synthesis and characterization; heterogeneous catalysis; CO2 photocatalytic reduction; photocatalysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid developments in urbanization and industrialization have caused serious environmental problems, among these the contamination of groundwater. Consequently, clean water sources are needed. Even though some contaminants can be found in trace concentrations in waters, their adverse effects cannot be underestimated due to their continuous release into the water systems.

Due to the fact that the organic compounds discharged in water are multiple and complex (e.g., dyes, phenols, surfactants, pesticides, antibiotics, etc.) different methods were used in the remediation of wastewater which include adsorption, membrane technology, biological treatment, and advanced oxidation processes. By advanced oxidation processes the target compounds could be quickly and efficiently converted into small inorganic molecules, such as CO2 and H2O. Among the advanced oxidation methods used to mineralize pollutants, photocatalysis is the most promising technique being considered a safe, highly efficient and cost effective technique, further research still being needed in developing new immobilized photocatalysts. By immobilizing metals on semiconductors nanocomposite materials as high-performance photocatalysts could be obtained.

The main aim of this Special Issue is devoted to exploring and highlighting novel nanocomposite materials and identifying and correlating the properties that appear at the interface between metal and support with the photocatalytic performances.

Dr. Madalina Ciobanu
Dr. Gabriela Petcu
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • nanocomposite photocatalysts
  • mesoporous materials
  • zeolite
  • metal/semiconductor nanocomposites
  • interfacial characteristics
  • UV/Visible light irradiaton
  • photocatalysis
  • reaction mechanism

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2524 KiB  
Article
Photoelectron Properties and Organic Molecules Photodegradation Activity of Titania Nanotubes with CuxO Nanoparticles Heat Treated in Air and Argon
by Elizaveta Konstantinova, Timofey Savchuk, Olga Pinchuk, Ekaterina Kytina, Elizaveta Ivanova, Lidiya Volkova, Vladimir Zaitsev, Alexander Pavlikov and Elena Elizarova
Molecules 2022, 27(22), 8080; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27228080 - 21 Nov 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1697
Abstract
Titania is very famous photocatalyst for decomposition of organic pollutants. Its photocatalytic properties significantly depend on the morphology and chemical composition of the samples. Herein, the TiO2 nanotubes/CuxO nanoheterostructures have been synthesized and the effect of heat treatment performed in [...] Read more.
Titania is very famous photocatalyst for decomposition of organic pollutants. Its photocatalytic properties significantly depend on the morphology and chemical composition of the samples. Herein, the TiO2 nanotubes/CuxO nanoheterostructures have been synthesized and the effect of heat treatment performed in molecular atmospheres of air and argon on their photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic properties has been studied. The prepared samples have a higher reaction rate constant compared to TiO2 nanotubes in the decomposition reaction of methylene blue molecules. It is established that in argon treated nanoheterostructures, the copper oxide is present in two phases, CuO and Cu2O, while in air treated ones there is only CuO. In the TiO2 nanotubes/CuxO samples, Cu2+ ions and molecular O2− radicals were detected while in TiO2 nanotubes only carbon dangling bond defects are present. The dynamics of O2− radicals under illumination are discussed. It was shown that the TiO2 nanotubes do not exhibit photocatalytic activity under visible light. The mechanism of the photocatalytic reaction on the surface of the TiO2 nanotubes/CuxO samples was proposed. It is assumed that a photocatalytic decomposition of organic molecules under visible light at the surface of the nanoheterostructures under investigation is realized mainly by the reaction of these molecules with photogenerated O2− radicals. The results obtained are completely original and indicate the high promise of the prepared photocatalysts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanocomposites as a Promising Type of Photocatalyst)
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13 pages, 4371 KiB  
Article
Nanocomposite of Nickel Nanoparticles-Impregnated Biochar from Palm Leaves as Highly Active and Magnetic Photocatalyst for Methyl Violet Photocatalytic Oxidation
by Is Fatimah, Hiroko Kawaii Wijayanti, Galih Dwiki Ramanda, Muchammad Tamyiz, Ruey-an Doong and Suresh Sagadevan
Molecules 2022, 27(20), 6871; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27206871 - 13 Oct 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2173
Abstract
Photocatalysis has been recognized as a feasible method in water and wastewater treatment. Compared to other methods such as adsorption and chemical oxidation, the use of photocatalyst in the advanced oxidation processes gives benefits such as a longer lifetime of the catalyst and [...] Read more.
Photocatalysis has been recognized as a feasible method in water and wastewater treatment. Compared to other methods such as adsorption and chemical oxidation, the use of photocatalyst in the advanced oxidation processes gives benefits such as a longer lifetime of the catalyst and less consumable chemicals. Currently, explorations into low-cost, effective photocatalysts for organic contaminated water are being developed. Within this scheme, an easily separated photocatalyst with other functionality, such as high adsorption, is important. In this research, preparation of a magnetic nanocomposite photocatalyst based on agricultural waste, palm leaves biochar impregnated nickel nanoparticles (Ni/BC), was investigated. The nanocomposite was prepared by direct pyrolysis of palm leaves impregnated with nickel (II) chloride precursor. Furthermore, the physicochemical characterization of the material was performed by using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (SEM-EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), gas sorption analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The photocatalytic activity of Ni/BC was evaluated for methyl violet (MV) photocatalytic oxidation. The results from XRD, XPS and TEM analyses identified single nickel nanoparticles dispersed on the biochar structure ranging from 30–50 nm in size. The dispersed nickel nanoparticles increased the BET specific surface area of biochar from 3.92 m2/g to 74.12 m2/g oxidation. High photocatalytic activity of the Ni/BC was exhibited by complete MV removal in 30 min for the concentration ranging from 10–80 mg/L. In addition, the Ni/BC showed stability in the pH range of 4–10 and reusability without any activity change until fifth usage. The separable photocatalyst is related to magnetism of about 13.7 emu/g. The results highlighted the role of biochar as effective support for Ni as photoactive material. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanocomposites as a Promising Type of Photocatalyst)
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18 pages, 2844 KiB  
Article
CO2 Sorbents Based on Spherical Carbon and Photoactive Metal Oxides: Insight into Adsorption Capacity, Selectivity and Regenerability
by Iwona Pełech, Ewelina Kusiak-Nejman, Piotr Staciwa, Daniel Sibera, Joanna Kapica-Kozar, Agnieszka Wanag, Filip Latzke, Karolina Pawłowska, Adrianna Michalska, Urszula Narkiewicz and Antoni W. Morawski
Molecules 2022, 27(20), 6802; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27206802 - 11 Oct 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1504
Abstract
This work aimed to obtain hybrid composites based on photoactive metal oxide and carbon having adsorption properties. The materials, composed of titanium dioxide or zinc oxide and spherical carbon, were obtained from resorcinol-formaldehyde resin, treated in a solvothermal reactor heated with microwaves and [...] Read more.
This work aimed to obtain hybrid composites based on photoactive metal oxide and carbon having adsorption properties. The materials, composed of titanium dioxide or zinc oxide and spherical carbon, were obtained from resorcinol-formaldehyde resin, treated in a solvothermal reactor heated with microwaves and then subjected to carbonization, were received. The functional groups of pure carbon spheres (unsaturated stretching C=C, stretching C−OH and C−H bending vibrations), CS/ZnO and CS/TiO2 samples were determined by FT-IR analysis. The characteristic bands for ZnO and TiO2 were observed below 1000 cm−1. The thermal oxidative properties are similar for TiO2- and ZnO-modified carbon spheres. We have observed that the increased carbon sphere content in nanocomposites results in starting the decomposition process at a lower temperature, therefore, nanocomposites have a broader combustion temperature range. The effect of the oxides’ addition to carbon spheres on their adsorption properties was evaluated in detail by examining CO2 adsorption from the gas phase. The selectivity of CO2 over N2 at a temperature of 25 °C and pressure of 1 bar (a novelty in testing CS-based sorbents) calculated for 3.00 CS/TiO2 and 4.00 CS/ZnO was 15.09 and 16.95, respectively. These nanocomposites exhibit excellent cyclic stability checked over 10 consecutive adsorption–desorption cycles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanocomposites as a Promising Type of Photocatalyst)
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Review

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16 pages, 2890 KiB  
Review
MXene-Based Photocatalysts in Degradation of Organic and Pharmaceutical Pollutants
by Siavash Iravani and Rajender S. Varma
Molecules 2022, 27(20), 6939; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27206939 - 16 Oct 2022
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3823
Abstract
These days, explorations have focused on designing two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials with useful (photo)catalytic and environmental applications. Among them, MXene-based composites have garnered great attention owing to their unique optical, mechanical, thermal, chemical, and electronic properties. Various MXene-based photocatalysts have been inventively constructed for [...] Read more.
These days, explorations have focused on designing two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials with useful (photo)catalytic and environmental applications. Among them, MXene-based composites have garnered great attention owing to their unique optical, mechanical, thermal, chemical, and electronic properties. Various MXene-based photocatalysts have been inventively constructed for a variety of photocatalytic applications ranging from pollutant degradation to hydrogen evolution. They can be applied as co-catalysts in combination with assorted common photocatalysts such as metal sulfide, metal oxides, metal–organic frameworks, graphene, and graphitic carbon nitride to enhance the function of photocatalytic removal of organic/pharmaceutical pollutants, nitrogen fixation, photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, and carbon dioxide conversion, among others. High electrical conductivity, robust photothermal effects, large surface area, hydrophilicity, and abundant surface functional groups of MXenes render them as attractive candidates for photocatalytic removal of pollutants as well as improvement of photocatalytic performance of semiconductor catalysts. Herein, the most recent developments in photocatalytic degradation of organic and pharmaceutical pollutants using MXene-based composites are deliberated, with a focus on important challenges and future perspectives; techniques for fabrication of these photocatalysts are also covered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanocomposites as a Promising Type of Photocatalyst)
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