scholarly journals Visible Light Driven Photoanodes for Water Oxidation Based on Novel r-GO/β-Cu2V2O7/TiO2 Nanorods Composites

Nanomaterials ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuang Shuang ◽  
Leonardo Girardi ◽  
Gian Rizzi ◽  
Andrea Sartorel ◽  
Carla Marega ◽  
...  

This paper describes the preparation and the photoelectrochemical performances of visible light driven photoanodes based on novel r-GO/β-Cu2V2O7/TiO2 nanorods/composites. β-Cu2V2O7 was deposited on both fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) and TiO2 nanorods (NRs)/FTO by a fast and convenient Aerosol Assisted Spray Pyrolysis (AASP) procedure. Ethylenediamine (EN), ammonia and citric acid (CA) were tested as ligands for Cu2+ ions in the aerosol precursors solution. The best-performing deposits, in terms of photocurrent density, were obtained when NH3 was used as ligand. When β-Cu2V2O7 was deposited on the TiO2 NRs a good improvement in the durability of the photoanode was obtained, compared with pure β-Cu2V2O7 on FTO. A further remarkable improvement in durability and photocurrent density was obtained upon addition, by electrophoretic deposition, of reduced graphene oxide (r-GO) flakes on the β-Cu2V2O7/TiO2 composite material. The samples were characterized by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Raman, High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Wide Angle X-ray Diffraction (WAXD) and UV-Vis spectroscopies. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) performances of β-Cu2V2O7 on FTO, β-Cu2V2O7/TiO2 and r-GO/β-Cu2V2O7/TiO2 were tested in visible light by linear voltammetry and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) measurements.

Catalysts ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 679
Author(s):  
Philani V. Hlophe ◽  
Langelihle N. Dlamini

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising materials for the removal and photodegradation of pesticides in water. Characteristics such as large surface area, crystalline structure and catalytic properties give MOFs an advantage over other traditional adsorbents. The application of MOFs in environmental remediation is hindered by their ability to only absorb in the UV region. Therefore, combining them with an excellent charge carrier 2D material such as black phosphorus (BP) provides an attractive composite for visible-light-driven degradation of pesticides. In the study, a nanocomposite of black phosphorus and MIL-125(Ti), defined as BpMIL, was prepared using a two-stage hydrothermal and sonication route. The as-prepared composite was characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. These techniques revealed that the circular and sheet-like morphology of the nanocomposites had minimum charge recombination, allowing them to be effective photocatalysts. Furthermore, the photocatalysts exhibited extended productive utilization of the solar spectrum with inhibited recombination rate and could be applied in visible-light-driven water treatment. The photodegradation of diazinon in water was studied using a series of BpMIL (4%, 6% and 12% by mass) nanocomposites as a photocatalyst. The optimal composite was determined to be 4%BpMIL. The degradation parameters were optimized and these included photocatalyst dosage, initial diazinon concentration and pH of the solution. The optimal conditions for the removal and degradation of diazinon were: neutral pH, [diazinon] = 20 mg/L, photocatalyst dosage = 0.5 g/L, achieving 96% removal of the pesticide after 30 min with 4%BpMIL, while MIL-125(Ti) showed 40% removal. The improved photodegradation efficiency of the 4%BpMIL composite was attributed to Ti3+-Ti4+ intervalence electron transfer and the synergistic effect between MIL-125(Ti) and BP. The photodegradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with a rate constant of 1.6 × 10−2 min−1.


Catalysts ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoya Yuan ◽  
Zijuan Feng ◽  
Jianjun Zhao ◽  
Jiawei Niu ◽  
Jiasen Liu ◽  
...  

Bismuth nanoparticles (BiNPs) and Zinc Oxide photocatalysts (BiNPs/ZnO) with different Bi loadings were successfully prepared via a facile chemical method. Their morphology and structure were thoroughly characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-Vis (Ultraviolet-Visible) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence spectra (PL), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results showed that a modification of hexagonal wurtzite-phase ZnO nanoparticles with Bi is achievable with an intimate interfacial interaction within its composites. The performance of the photocatalytic Cr(VI) removal under visible light irradiation indicated that BiNPs/ZnO exhibited a superior removal performance to bare ZnO, Bi, and the counterpart sample prepared using a physical mixing method. The excellent performance of the BiNPs/ZnO photocatalysts could be ascribed to the synergistic effect between the considerable physical Cr (VI) adsorption and enhanced absorption intensity in the visible light region, due to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) as well as the effective transfer and separation of the photogenerated charge carriers at the interface.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anukorn Phuruangrat ◽  
Jarupat Teppetcharat ◽  
Panudda Patiphatpanya ◽  
Phattranit Dumrongrojthanath ◽  
Somchai Thongtem ◽  
...  

Abstract Heterostructure Pd/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites were successful synthesized in ethylene glycol by microwave-assisted deposition method at 300 W for 10 min. Effect of the loaded Pd on phase, composition, morphology and visible-light-driven photocatalytic properties of Bi2WO6 was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fast-Fourier-Transform (FFT) diffraction, UV-visible absorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In this research, good distribution of cubic phase of spherical Pd nanoparticles with particle size of 15–20 nm supported on orthorhombic Bi2WO6 thin nanoplates. The 10% Pd/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites reveal major metallic Pd0 species containing in Bi2WO6 sample. Microwave can be used to synthesize metallic Pd nanoparticles supporting on top of Bi2WO6 nanoplates. Photocatalytic activities of Bi2WO6 loaded with different weight contents of Pd were monitored through photodegradation of cationic rhodamine B (RhB) dye under visible light irradiation of a xenon lamp. The 10% Pd/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites have the highest photocatalytic activity because Pd nanoparticles as electron acceptors promote interfacial charge-transfer through Pd/Bi2WO6 heterojunction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nguyen Thi Lan ◽  
Vo Hoang Anh ◽  
Hoang Duc An ◽  
Nguyen Phi Hung ◽  
Dao Ngoc Nhiem ◽  
...  

In this study, C-N-S-tridoped TiO2 composite was fabricated from TiO2 prepared from ilmenite ore and thiourea by means of hydrothermal method. The obtained material was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering spectroscopy, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was found that C-N-S-tridoped TiO2 material has a large specific surface area, showing good photocatalytic activity on the degradation of antibiotic tetracycline in visible light region. The study on the mechanism of tetracycline photodegradation using the liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry was performed. It was found that tetracycline has been degraded over C-N-S-tridoped TiO2 catalyst into many different intermediates which can eventually be converted into CO2 and H2O. The kinetics of photocatalytic decomposition of tetracycline were investigated. In addition, the obtained material could catalyze well the degradation of other antibiotics (ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol) and dyes (rhodamine-B, methylene blue, and organe red). The catalyst was stable after five recycles with slight loss of catalytic activity, which indicates great potential for practical application of C-N-S-tridoped TiO2 catalyst in treatment of wastewater containing tetracycline in particular or antibiotics in general.


NANO ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (08) ◽  
pp. 1850092 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaofa Su ◽  
Yan Qi ◽  
Baozhu Shi ◽  
Yanqun Lv ◽  
Lecheng Tian

The CuInS2 quantum dots sensitization of TiO2 nanonails (NNs) array was successfully carried out by a successive ionic layer absorption and reaction (SILAR) method using CuCl2 ⋅ 2H2O, InCl3 ⋅ 4H2O and Na2S ⋅ 9H2O as precursors. The morphology, elemental composition and crystalline structure of the CuInS2 quantum dots sensitized TiO2 NNs array heterojunction nanostructures were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray-photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The above characterization results could unanimously reveal that the nanoparticles successfully loaded on the TiO2 NNs array can be assigned as CuInS2 quantum dots. UV-Vis absorption measurements indicated that the CuInS2 quantum dots sensitization extended the visible light absorption. The largest short-circuit photocurrent density of 17.7[Formula: see text]mA/cm2 was obtained, which indicated that the CuInS2 was a promising material in activating visible light functionalities and enhancing photoelectrochemical performance.


NANO ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1650114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Li ◽  
Jianwei Li ◽  
Caiqin Han ◽  
Xinsheng Zhao ◽  
Haipeng Chu ◽  
...  

Few-layered MoS2 nanostructures were successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method without the addition of any catalysts or surfactants. Their morphology, structure and photocatalytic activity were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, electrochemical impedance spectra and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, respectively. These results show that the MoS2 nanostructures synthesized at 180[Formula: see text]C exhibit an optimal visible light photocatalytic activity (99%) in the degradation of Rhodamine B owing to the relatively easier adsorption of pollutants, higher visible light absorption and lower electron–hole pair recombination.


Catalysts ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingliang Ma ◽  
Yuying Yang ◽  
Yan Chen ◽  
Fei Wu ◽  
Wenting Li ◽  
...  

In this manuscript, hollow flower-like ferric oxide/manganese dioxide/trimanganese tetraoxide (Fe3O4/MnO2/Mn3O4) magnetically separable microspheres were prepared by combining a simple hydrothermal method and reduction method. As the MnO2 nanoflower working as precursor was partially reduced, Mn3O4 nanoparticles were in situ grown from the MnO2 nanosheet. The composite microspheres were characterized in detail by employing scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), vibration sample magnetometer (VSM) and UV–visible spectrophotometer (UV–vis). Under visible light conditions, the test for degrading rhodamine B (RhB) was used to verify the photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst. The results showed that the efficiency of the Fe3O4/MnO2/Mn3O4 photocatalyst in visible light for 130 min is 94.5%. The catalytic activity of photocatalyst far exceeded that of the Fe3O4/MnO2 component, and after four cycles, the catalytic performance of the catalyst remained at 78.4%. The superior properties of the photocatalyst came from improved surface area, enhanced light absorption, and efficient charge separation of the MnO2/Mn3O4 heterostructure. This study constructed a green and efficient valence heterostructure composite that created a promising photocatalyst for degrading organic contaminants in aqueous environments.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 62-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Li ◽  
Peng Yang ◽  
Bin Wang ◽  
Zhongqing Liu

Bimetallic phosphides have been attracting increasing attention due to their synergistic effect for improving the hydrogen evolution reaction as compared to monometallic phosphides. In this work, NiCoP modified hybrid electrodes were fabricated by a one-step electrodeposition process with TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNAs) as a carrier. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, UV–vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to characterize the physiochemical properties of the samples. The electrochemical performance was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. We show that after incorporating Co into Ni–P, the resulting Ni x Co y P/TNAs present enhanced electrocatalytic activity due to the improved electron transfer and increased electrochemically active surface area (ECSA). In 0.5 mol L−1 H2SO4 electrolyte, the Ni x Co y P/TNAs (x = 3.84, y = 0.78) demonstrated an ECSA value of 52.1 mF cm−2, which is 3.8 times that of Ni–P/TNAs (13.7 mF cm−2). In a two-electrode system with a Pt sheet as the anode, the Ni x Co y P/TNAs presented a bath voltage of 1.92 V at 100 mA cm−2, which is an improvment of 79% over that of 1.07 V at 10 mA cm−2.


Toxins ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huiting Wang ◽  
Jin Mao ◽  
Zhaowei Zhang ◽  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Liangxiao Zhang ◽  
...  

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a secondary metabolite produced by Fusarium, which is a trichothecene mycotoxin. As the main mycotoxin with high toxicity, wheat, barley, corn and their products are susceptible to contamination of DON. Due to the stability of this mycotoxin, traditional methods for DON reduction often require a strong oxidant, high temperature and high pressure with more energy consumption. Therefore, exploring green, efficient and environmentally friendly ways to degrade or reduce DON is a meaningful and challenging issue. Herein, a dendritic-like α-Fe2O3 was successfully prepared using a facile hydrothermal synthesis method at 160 °C, which was systematically characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was found that dendritic-like α-Fe2O3 showed superior activity for the photocatalytic degradation of DON in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation (λ > 420 nm) and 90.3% DON (initial concentration of 4.0 μg/mL) could be reduced in 2 h. Most of all, the main possible intermediate products were proposed through high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) after the photocatalytic treatment. This work not only provides a green and promising way to mitigate mycotoxin contamination but also may present useful information for future studies.


Nanomaterials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul Wafi ◽  
Erzsébet Szabó-Bárdos ◽  
Ottó Horváth ◽  
Mihály Pósfai ◽  
Éva Makó ◽  
...  

Catalysts for visible-light-driven oxidative cleaning processes and antibacterial applications (also in the dark) were developed. In order to extend the photoactivity of titanium dioxide into the visible region, nitrogen-doped TiO2 catalysts with hollow and non-hollow structures were synthesized by co-precipitation (NT-A) and sol–gel (NT-U) methods, respectively. To increase their photocatalytic and antibacterial efficiencies, various amounts of silver were successfully loaded on the surfaces of these catalysts by using a facile photo-deposition technique. Their physical and chemical properties were evaluated by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (TEM–EDS), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The photocatalytic performances of the synthesized catalysts were examined in coumarin and 1,4-hydroquinone solutions. The results showed that the hollow structure of NT-A played an important role in obtaining high specific surface area and appreciable photoactivity. In addition, Ag-loading on the surface of non-hollow structured NT-U could double the photocatalytic performance with an optimum Ag concentration of 10−6 mol g−1, while a slight but monotonous decrease was caused in this respect for the hollow surface of NTA upon increasing Ag concentration. Comparing the catalysts with different structures regarding the photocatalytic performance, silverized non-hollow NT-U proved competitive with the hollow NT-A catalyst without Ag-loading for efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic oxidative degradations. The former one, due to the silver nanoparticles on the catalyst surface, displayed an appreciable antibacterial activity, which was comparable to that of a reference material practically applied for disinfection in polymer coatings.


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