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Nanomaterials
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Photocatalytic Nanomaterials for Pollutant Remediation
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Photocatalytic Nanomaterials for Pollutant Remediation

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy and Catalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2021) | Viewed by 22574

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Giuseppe Marcì

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department Engineering, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, PA, Italy
Interests: preparation of photo-catalysts; photocatalytic reactions for water and atmosphere depollution; photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide and photo-reforming; photo-catalytic partial oxidation reactions of compounds derived from biomass to obtain substances with high added value; thermo-photo-catalytic processes able to exploit light radiation to increase thermo-catalytic activity; optimization of catalytic processes for transformation of compounds deriving from biomass into platform molecules with high added value
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The “Photocatalytic Nanomaterials for Pollutant Remediation” Special Issue aims to collect articles regarding the preparation of new photocatalysts as powders or thin films (bare and loaded semiconductors or materials obtained by coupling different semiconductors) for the abatement of pollutants present both in gas-phase and in aqueous solutions. Research concerning the modelling and development of new photoreactors, including solar photoreactors, for pollutants remediation will be also considered for publication. Articles concerning the degradation of emergent micro- or nano-pollutants, like drugs or PFAS, will be particularly welcome; on the contrary, articles reporting the degradation of dyes, even for testing new materials, will be not considered.

Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Marcì
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • Pollutants remediation in gas phase
  • Pollutants remediation in water solution
  • Solar photoreactors
  • Photocatalysts preparation and characterization
  • Coupled photocatalysts
  • Fenton-like processes in heterogeneous regime
  • Photocatalysis coupled with ozonation technologies
  • Photocatalysis coupled with electrochemical processes
  • Heterogeneous photocatalysis for disinfection
  • Pilot-scale studies and field applications

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 2074 KiB  
Communication
TiO2-Based Nanocomposites Thin Film Having Boosted Photocatalytic Activity for Xenobiotics Water Pollution Remediation
by Angelo Nicosia, Fabiana Vento, Gisella Maria Di Mari, Luisa D’Urso and Placido G. Mineo
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(2), 400; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11020400 - 4 Feb 2021
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 4226
Abstract
Photocatalytic remediation represents a potential sustainable solution to the abatement of xenobiotic pollutants released within the water environment. Aeroxide® P25 titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are well-known as one of the most efficient photocatalysts in several applications, and have also been [...] Read more.
Photocatalytic remediation represents a potential sustainable solution to the abatement of xenobiotic pollutants released within the water environment. Aeroxide® P25 titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are well-known as one of the most efficient photocatalysts in several applications, and have also been investigated in water remediation as suspended powder. Recently, their application in the form of thin films has been revealed as a potential alternative to avoid time-consuming filtration processes. Polymers represent suitable substrates to immobilize TiO2 NPs, allowing further production of thin films that can be exploited as a photoactive coating for environmental remediation. Nevertheless, the methods adopted to immobilize TiO2 NPs on polymer matrix involve time-consuming procedures and the use of several reactants. Here, titanium dioxide-based nanocomposites (NCx) were obtained through a new approach based on Methyl Methacrylate in situ bulk polymerization and were compared with a blended mixture (BL). Their morphology and chemical–physical properties were investigated through Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), UV–Vis, and Raman spectroscopies. It was revealed that the in situ approach deeply influences the chemical–physical interactions between the polymer matrix and TiO2 NPs. Photocatalytic experiments revealed the boosted photodegradation activity of NCx thin films, induced by the in situ approach. The photodegradation of paraquat and acetaminophen was also ascertained. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalytic Nanomaterials for Pollutant Remediation)
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12 pages, 3425 KiB  
Article
Defect Engineering Enhances the Charge Separation of CeO2 Nanorods toward Photocatalytic Methyl Blue Oxidation
by Jindong Yang, Ning Xie, Jingnan Zhang, Wenjie Fan, Yongchao Huang and Yexiang Tong
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(11), 2307; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10112307 - 21 Nov 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3365
Abstract
Defect-rich photocatalytic materials with excellent charge transfer properties are very popular. Herein, Sm-doped CeO2 nanorods were annealed in a N2 atmosphere to obtain the defective Sm-doped CeO2 photocatalysts (Vo–Sm–CeO2). The morphology and structure of Vo–Sm–CeO2 were systematically [...] Read more.
Defect-rich photocatalytic materials with excellent charge transfer properties are very popular. Herein, Sm-doped CeO2 nanorods were annealed in a N2 atmosphere to obtain the defective Sm-doped CeO2 photocatalysts (Vo–Sm–CeO2). The morphology and structure of Vo–Sm–CeO2 were systematically characterized. The Vo–Sm–CeO2 nanorods demonstrated an excellent photodegradation performance of methyl blue under visible light irradiation compared to CeO2 nanorods and Sm–CeO2. Reactive oxygen species including OH, ·O2−, and h+ were confirmed to play a pivotal role in the removal of pollutants via electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Doping Sm enhances the conductivity of CeO2 nanorods, benefiting photogenerated electrons being removed from the surface reactive sites, resulting in the superior performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalytic Nanomaterials for Pollutant Remediation)
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24 pages, 7371 KiB  
Article
Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Evaluation of Manganese (III) Phthalocyanine Sensitized ZnWO4 (ZnWO4MnPc) for Bisphenol A Degradation under UV Irradiation
by Chukwuka Bethel Anucha, Ilknur Altin, Zekeriya Biyiklioglu, Emin Bacaksiz, Ismail Polat and Vassilis N. Stathopoulos
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(11), 2139; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10112139 - 27 Oct 2020
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 3275
Abstract
ZnWO4MnPc was synthesized via a hydrothermal autoclave method with 1 wt.% manganese (iii) phthalocyanine content. The material was characterized for its structural and morphological features via X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission emission microscopy (TEM), scanning electron [...] Read more.
ZnWO4MnPc was synthesized via a hydrothermal autoclave method with 1 wt.% manganese (iii) phthalocyanine content. The material was characterized for its structural and morphological features via X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission emission microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy-Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), N2 adsorption–desorption at 77K, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV-visible/diffuse reflectance spectroscopy(UV-vis/DRS). ZnWO4MnPc photocatalytic performance was tested on the degradation of bisphenol A (BPA). The ZnWO4MnPc material removed 60% of BPA after 4 h of 365 nm UV irradiation. Degradation process improved significantly to about 80% removal in the presence of added 5 mM H2O2 after 4 h irradiation. Almost 100% removal was achieved after 30 min under 450 nm visible light irradiation in the presence of same concentration of H2O2. The effect of ions and humic acid (HA) towards BPA removal was also investigated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalytic Nanomaterials for Pollutant Remediation)
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15 pages, 2005 KiB  
Article
Photocatalytic Transformations of 1H-Benzotriazole and Benzotriazole Derivates
by Marco Minella, Elisa De Laurentiis, Francesco Pellegrino, Marco Prozzi, Federica Dal Bello, Valter Maurino and Claudio Minero
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(9), 1835; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10091835 - 14 Sep 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3840
Abstract
Benzotriazoles are a new class of organic emerging pollutants ubiquitously found in the environment. The increase of their concentration to detectable values is the consequence of the inability of the Conventional Waste Water Plants (CWWPs) to abate these products. We subjected 1H-benzotriazole (BTz), [...] Read more.
Benzotriazoles are a new class of organic emerging pollutants ubiquitously found in the environment. The increase of their concentration to detectable values is the consequence of the inability of the Conventional Waste Water Plants (CWWPs) to abate these products. We subjected 1H-benzotriazole (BTz), tolyltriazole (TTz), and Tinuvin P (TP, a common UV plastic stabilizer) to photocatalytic degradation under UV-irradiated TiO2 in different conditions. The principal photoformed intermediates, the relationship between the degradation rate and the pH, the degree of mineralization, and the fate of the organic nitrogen were investigated. Under the adopted experimental conditions, all the studied substrates were rapidly photocatalytically transformed (the maximum degradation rates for BTz and TTz were (3.88 ± 0.05) × 10−2 and (2.11 ± 0.09) × 10−2 mM min−1, respectively) and mineralized (the mineralization rate for BTz and TTz was 4.0 × 10−3 mM C min−1 for both substrates). Different from the 1,2,4-triazole rings that are not completely mineralized under photocatalytic conditions, 1H-benzotriazole and tolyltriazole were completely mineralized with a mechanism that involved a partial conversion of organic nitrogen to N2. The photocatalytic process activated by UV-irradiated TiO2 is an efficient tool to abate 1H-benzotriazole and its derivatives, avoiding their release in the environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalytic Nanomaterials for Pollutant Remediation)
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13 pages, 4386 KiB  
Article
Paper Functionalized with Nanostructured TiO2/AgBr: Photocatalytic Degradation of 2–Propanol under Solar Light Irradiation and Antibacterial Activity
by Mouheb Sboui, Soraa Bouattour, Michelangelo Gruttadauria, Giuseppe Marcì, Leonarda Francesca Liotta and Sami Boufi
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(3), 470; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10030470 - 5 Mar 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4275
Abstract
A facile method to produce paper–TiO2 decorated with AgBr nanoparticles by a mild hydrothermal process at 140 °C was reported. The synthesis method was based on the immersion of the paper in a ready-made suspension of TiO2/AgBr, comprising TiO2 [...] Read more.
A facile method to produce paper–TiO2 decorated with AgBr nanoparticles by a mild hydrothermal process at 140 °C was reported. The synthesis method was based on the immersion of the paper in a ready-made suspension of TiO2/AgBr, comprising TiO2 sol solution prepared in acidic conditions and AgBr solution (10−4 M). A paper–TiO2 sample was prepared and used as reference. The formation of crystalline phases of titanium oxide (TiO2) and silver bromide (AgBr) was demonstrated by XRD, Raman and EDX analyses. The surface morphology of the TiO2–AgBr was investigated by Field Effect Scanning Electronic Microscopy (FE–SEM). The photocatalytic performances of the prepared material were evaluated in the degradation of 2-propanol in the gas phase, under simulated sunlight illumination. Its antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli (E. coli) were also assessed. The efficiency of photodegradation and the anti-bacterial properties of paper–TiO2–AgBr were attributed to an improvement in the absorption of visible light, the increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the low recombination of photogenerated charge carriers due to the synergistic effect between TiO2 and AgBr/Ag nanoparticles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalytic Nanomaterials for Pollutant Remediation)
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14 pages, 6404 KiB  
Article
Facile Fabrication of Flower-Like BiOI/BiOCOOH p–n Heterojunctions for Highly Efficient Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Removal of Harmful Antibiotics
by Shijie Li, Bing Xue, Chunchun Wang, Wei Jiang, Shiwei Hu, Yanping Liu, Hengwei Wang and Jianshe Liu
Nanomaterials 2019, 9(11), 1571; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano9111571 - 6 Nov 2019
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2824
Abstract
Novel heterojunction photocatalysts with remarkable photocatalytic capabilities and durability for degrading recalcitrant contaminants are extremely desired; however, their development still remains quite challenging. In this study, a series of flower-like BiOI/BiOCOOH p–n heterojunctions were fabricated via a controlled in situ anion-exchange process. During [...] Read more.
Novel heterojunction photocatalysts with remarkable photocatalytic capabilities and durability for degrading recalcitrant contaminants are extremely desired; however, their development still remains quite challenging. In this study, a series of flower-like BiOI/BiOCOOH p–n heterojunctions were fabricated via a controlled in situ anion-exchange process. During the process, BiOI formation and even deposition on BiOCOOH microspheres with tight interfacial contact were realized. As expected, BiOI/BiOCOOH heterojunctions revealed remarkable enhancements in photocatalytic antibiotic degradation capacities under visible light irradiation compared with pristine BiOI and BiOCOOH. The best-performing BiOI/BiOCOOH heterojunction (i.e., IBOCH-2) showed much improved photocatalytic CIP degradation efficiency of approximately 81- and 3.9-fold greater than those of bare BiOI and BiOCOOH, respectively. The eminent photocatalytic performances were due not only to the enhanced capability in harvesting photon energies in visible light regions, but also the accelerated separation of electrons and holes boosted by the p–n heterojunction. Active species trapping tests demonstrated that superoxide free radicals (•O2−) and photo-generated holes (h+) were major active species for CIP degradation. Recycling experiments verified the good durability of BIBO-2 over four runs. The facile in situ synthesis route and excellent performance endow flower-like BiOI/BiOCOOH heterojunctions with a promising potential for actual environmental remediation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalytic Nanomaterials for Pollutant Remediation)
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