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Solar Photocatalysis

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2016) | Viewed by 10727

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Guest Editor
Ability R&D Energy Research Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Interests: solar photocatalysis; fuel-cell electrochemistry; hydrogen production; carbon management; carbon capture and storage; advanced refrigeration and air-conditioning
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

To increase our sustainability, we need to actively change our primary energy source from finite fossil fuel to renewable energy resources. Solar energy is certainly the largest source of renewable energy on Earth; besides, conversion of solar energy into useful forms by solar thermal and photovoltaic technologies, solar energy can be directly utilized for functional applications by means of solar photocatalysis. This Special Issue is intended to report the recent technological development in solar photocatalysis and its significant contribution.

Prof. Dr. Michael K. H. Leung
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Heterogeneous photocatalysis
  • Modified nanostructure photocatalyst
  • Photocatalytic reactor
  • Visible-light activation
  • Solar energy conversion
  • Air/water purification
  • Self-cleaning exterior surface

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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16869 KiB  
Article
A Photocatalytic Rotating Disc Reactor with TiO2 Nanowire Arrays Deposited for Industrial Wastewater Treatment
by Fang Li, Wai Szeto, Haibao Huang, Jiantao Li and Dennis Y. C. Leung
Molecules 2017, 22(2), 337; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules22020337 - 22 Feb 2017
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6041
Abstract
A photocatalytic rotating disc reactor (PRD-reactor) with TiO2 nanowire arrays deposited on a thin Ti plate is fabricated and tested for industrial wastewater treatment. Results indicate that the PRD-reactor shows excellent decolorization capability when tested with methyl orange (>97.5%). Advanced oxidation processes [...] Read more.
A photocatalytic rotating disc reactor (PRD-reactor) with TiO2 nanowire arrays deposited on a thin Ti plate is fabricated and tested for industrial wastewater treatment. Results indicate that the PRD-reactor shows excellent decolorization capability when tested with methyl orange (>97.5%). Advanced oxidation processes (AOP), including photocatalytic oxidation and photolytic reaction, occurred during the processing. Efficiency of the AOP increases with reduction in light absorption pathlength, which enhanced the photocatalytic reaction, as well as by increasing oxygen exposure of the wastewater thin film due to the rotating disc design. It is found that, with a small dosage of hydrogen peroxide, the mineralization efficiency of industrial biodegraded wastewater can be enhanced, with a superior mineralization of >75% total organic carbon (TOC) removal. This is due to the fact that the TiO2 photocatalysis and hydrogen peroxide processes generate powerful oxidants (hydroxyl radicals) that can strongly improve photocatalytic oxidation efficiency. Application of this industrial wastewater treatment system is benefited from the TiO2 nanowire arrays, which can be fabricated by a mild solvothermal method at 80 °C and under atmospheric pressure. Similar morphologies and microstructures are found for the TiO2 nanowire arrays deposited on a large metal Ti disc, which makes the wastewater treatment process more practical and economical. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Photocatalysis)
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788 KiB  
Article
Surface Modification of a Nanoporous Carbon Photoanode upon Irradiation
by Alicia Gomis-Berenguer, Inmaculada Velo-Gala, Enrique Rodríguez-Castellón and Conchi O. Ania
Molecules 2016, 21(11), 1611; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21111611 - 23 Nov 2016
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4245
Abstract
The photocorrosion of a nanoporous carbon photoanode, with low surface functionalization and high performance towards the photoelectrochemical oxidation of water using simulated solar light, was investigated. Two different light configurations were used to isolate the effect of the irradiation wavelength (UV and visible [...] Read more.
The photocorrosion of a nanoporous carbon photoanode, with low surface functionalization and high performance towards the photoelectrochemical oxidation of water using simulated solar light, was investigated. Two different light configurations were used to isolate the effect of the irradiation wavelength (UV and visible light) on the textural and chemical features of the carbon photoanode, and its long-term photocatalytic performance for the oxygen evolution reaction. A complete characterization of the carbon showed that the photocorrosion of carbon anodes of low functionalization follows a different pathway than highly functionalized carbons. The carbon matrix gets slightly oxidized, with the formation of carboxylic and carbonyl-like moieties in the surface of the carbon anode after light exposure. The oxidation of the carbon occurred due to the photogeneration of oxygen reactive species upon the decomposition of water during the irradiation of the photoanodes. Furthermore, the photoinduced surface reactions depend on the nature of the carbon anode and its ability to photogenerate reactive species in solution, rather than on the wavelength of the irradiation source. This surface modification is responsible for the decreased efficiency of the carbon photoanode throughout long illumination periods, due to the effect of the oxidation of the carbon matrix on the charge transfer. In this work, we have corroborated that, in the case of a low functionalization carbon material, the photocorrosion also occurs although it proceeds through a different pathway. The carbon anode gets gradually slightly oxidized due to the photogeneration of O-reactive species, being the incorporation of the O-groups responsible for the decreased performance of the anode upon long-term irradiation due to the effect of the oxidation of the carbon matrix on the electron transfer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Photocatalysis)
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