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Advances in Heterojunction Photocatalysts
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Advances in Heterojunction Photocatalysts

A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Photocatalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 May 2023) | Viewed by 26375

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yongming Fu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics and Quantum Optics Devices, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
Interests: photocatasis; piezoelectric; sensors; self-powered system
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Qian Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Materials, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
Interests: catalysis; energy conversion; self-powered; sensors; shadow effect
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Semiconductor-based photocatalysis attracts wide attention because of its ability to directly utilize solar energy for the production of solar fuels such as hydrogen and hydrocarbon fuels and for the degradation of various pollutants. Properly engineered heterojunction photocatalysts are shown to be able to possess higher photocatalytic activity because of the spatial separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs. Recently, five different heterojunctions have been investigated and proved to be efficient for enhancing the activity of photocatalysts: conventional type-II heterojunctions, p–n heterojunctions, surface heterojunctions, Z-scheme heterojunctions, and semiconductor–graphene heterojunctions. More efforts toward the development of heterojunction photocatalysts for various photocatalytic applications should be further presented and appraised.

This Special Issue entitled “Advances in Heterojunction Photocatalysts” will focus on the state of the art and outlooks for heterojunction photocatalysis. Submissions in the form of original research papers and review articles in areas of designing novel heterojunction materials, developing new synthetic methods, and finding new mechanisms for heterojunction photocatalysis are all welcomed. The scope of this Special Issue covers the whole applications of heterojunction photocatalysis, including but not limited to dye degradation, antibiotic mineralization, water splitting, solar fuels, carbon reduction, sterilization, photodynamic therapy, etc.

Dr. Yongming Fu
Dr. Qian Zhang
Guest Editors

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. Catalysts is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • heterojunction
  • photocatalysis
  • Z-scheme
  • carbon reduction
  • water splitting
  • solar fuels
  • photodynamic therapy
  • dye degradation
  • antibiotic mineralization
  • sterilization

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Published Papers (15 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

12 pages, 2852 KiB  
Article
BiVO4 Photoanodes Modified with Synergetic Effects between Heterojunction Functionalized FeCoOx and Plasma Au Nanoparticles
by Huangzhaoxiang Chen, Qian Zhang, Aumber Abbas, Wenran Zhang, Shuzhou Huang, Xiangguo Li, Shenghua Liu and Jing Shuai
Catalysts 2023, 13(7), 1063; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/catal13071063 - 01 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1056
Abstract
The design and development of high-performance photoanodes are the key to efficient photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Based on the carrier transfer characteristics and localized surface plasmon resonance effect of noble metals, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been used to improve the performance of photoanodes. [...] Read more.
The design and development of high-performance photoanodes are the key to efficient photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Based on the carrier transfer characteristics and localized surface plasmon resonance effect of noble metals, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been used to improve the performance of photoanodes. In this study, a novel efficient composite BiVO4/Au/FeCoOx photoanode is constructed, and the quantitative analysis of its performance is systematically conducted. The results reveal that the co-modification of AuNPs and FeCoOx plays a synergetic role in enhancing the absorption of ultraviolet and visible light of BiVO4, which is mainly attributed to the localized surface plasmon resonance effect induced by AuNPs and the extended light absorption edge position induced by the BiVO4/FeCoOx heterojunction. The BiVO4/Au/FeCoOx photoanode exhibits a high photocurrent density of 4.11 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V versus RHE at room temperature under AM 1.5 G illumination, which corresponds to a 299% increase compared to a pristine BiVO4 photoanode. These results provide practical support for the design and preparation of PEC photoanodes decorated with AuNPs and FeCoOx. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Heterojunction Photocatalysts)
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14 pages, 4161 KiB  
Article
Exceptional Photocatalytic Performance of the LaFeO3/g-C3N4 Z-Scheme Heterojunction for Water Splitting and Organic Dyes Degradation
by Muhammad Humayun, Ayesha Bahadur, Abbas Khan and Mohamed Bououdina
Catalysts 2023, 13(5), 907; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/catal13050907 - 20 May 2023
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 1521
Abstract
To simulate natural photosynthesis, scientists have developed an artificial Z-scheme system that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using two different semiconductors. Researchers are striving to improve the performance of Z-scheme systems by improving light absorption, developing redox couples with high stability, and [...] Read more.
To simulate natural photosynthesis, scientists have developed an artificial Z-scheme system that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using two different semiconductors. Researchers are striving to improve the performance of Z-scheme systems by improving light absorption, developing redox couples with high stability, and finding new cocatalysts. Here, we report the synthesis and utilization of LaFeO3/g-C3N4 as a Z-scheme system for water reduction to produce hydrogen and organic dye degradation under visible light irradiation. The as-fabricated photocatalyst revealed exceptional activity for H2 production (i.e., 351 µmol h−1g−1), which is 14.6 times higher compared to that of the single-component g-C3N4 (i.e., 24 µmol h−1g−1). In addition, the composite photocatalyst degraded 87% of Methylene Blue (MB) and 94% of Rhodamine B (RhB) in 2 h. Various experimental analyses confirmed that the exceptional performance of the LaFeO3/g-C3N4 Z-scheme catalyst is due to remarkably enhanced charge carrier separation and improved light absorption. The development of this highly effective Z-scheme heterostructure photocatalyst will pave the way for the sustainable development of newly designed Z-scheme scheme systems that will tackle energy and environmental crises. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Heterojunction Photocatalysts)
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16 pages, 3558 KiB  
Article
Vertical Growth of WO3 Nanosheets on TiO2 Nanoribbons as 2D/1D Heterojunction Photocatalysts with Improved Photocatalytic Performance under Visible Light
by Ling Wang, Keyi Xu, Hongwang Tang and Lianwen Zhu
Catalysts 2023, 13(3), 556; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/catal13030556 - 09 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1427
Abstract
We report the construction of 2D/1D heterojunction photocatalysts through the hydrothermal growth of WO3 nanosheets on TiO2 nanoribbons for the first time. Two-dimensional WO3 nanosheets were vertically arrayed on the surface of TiO2 nanoribbons, and the growth density could [...] Read more.
We report the construction of 2D/1D heterojunction photocatalysts through the hydrothermal growth of WO3 nanosheets on TiO2 nanoribbons for the first time. Two-dimensional WO3 nanosheets were vertically arrayed on the surface of TiO2 nanoribbons, and the growth density could be simply controlled by adjusting the concentration of the precursors. The construction of WO3/TiO2 heterojunctions not only decreases the band gap energy of TiO2 from 3.12 to 2.30 eV and broadens the photoresponse range from the UV region to the visible light region but also significantly reduces electron–hole pair recombination and enhances photo-generated carrier separation. Consequently, WO3/TiO2 heterostructures exhibit improved photocatalytic activity compared to pure WO3 nanosheets and TiO2 nanoribbons upon visible light irradiation. WO3/TiO2-25 possesses the highest photocatalytic activity and can remove 92.8% of RhB pollutants in 120 min. Both further increase and decrease in the growth density of WO3 nanosheets result in an obvious reduction in photocatalytic activity. The kinetic studies confirmed that the photocatalytic degradation of RhB follows the kinetics of the pseudo-first-order model. The present study demonstrates that the prepared WO3/TiO2 2D/1D heterostructures are promising materials for photocatalytic removal of organic pollutants to produce clean water. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Heterojunction Photocatalysts)
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12 pages, 3320 KiB  
Article
Fabrication of Porous Hydrophilic CN/PANI Heterojunction Film for High-Efficiency Photocatalytic H2 Evolution
by Xiaohang Yang, Yulin Zhang, Jiayuan Deng, Xuyang Huo, Yanling Wang and Ruokun Jia
Catalysts 2023, 13(1), 139; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/catal13010139 - 06 Jan 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1270
Abstract
The modulation of surface wettability and morphology are essential to optimize the photocatalytic H2 evolution activity of graphitic carbon nitride (CN)-based photocatalysts. In this work, the porous hydrophilic CN/PANI heterojunction film was prepared via interfacial polymerization and loaded on a porous PCL [...] Read more.
The modulation of surface wettability and morphology are essential to optimize the photocatalytic H2 evolution activity of graphitic carbon nitride (CN)-based photocatalysts. In this work, the porous hydrophilic CN/PANI heterojunction film was prepared via interfacial polymerization and loaded on a porous PCL substrate. The construction of the type-II CN/PANI heterojunction enabled an overall spectrum response and the efficient separation and transportation of photoexcited charge carriers. The fabricated CN/PANI solid-state film in comparison with its powder counterpart elevated the utilization efficiency and maintained the long-term stability of photocatalyst. The porous morphology and hydrophilic surface increased the surface area and enhanced the surface wettability, favoring water-molecule adsorption and activation. The as-prepared CN/PANI heterojunction film exhibited photocatalytic H2 production activity up to 3164.3 μmol·h−1·g−1, which was nearly 16-fold higher than that of pristine CN (569.1 μmol·h−1·g−1). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Heterojunction Photocatalysts)
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11 pages, 3425 KiB  
Article
Solvothermal Synthesis of g-C3N4/TiO2 Hybrid Photocatalyst with a Broaden Activation Spectrum
by Amit Imbar, Vinod Kumar Vadivel and Hadas Mamane
Catalysts 2023, 13(1), 46; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/catal13010046 - 26 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1658
Abstract
A solvothermal self-made composite of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and commercially available titanium dioxide (TiO2) demonstrated the removal of commercial acid green-25 (AG-25) textile dye in a saline water matrix when activated by ultraviolet (UV) and visible [...] Read more.
A solvothermal self-made composite of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and commercially available titanium dioxide (TiO2) demonstrated the removal of commercial acid green-25 (AG-25) textile dye in a saline water matrix when activated by ultraviolet (UV) and visible light. The g-C3N4-TiO2 composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Nitrogen sorption–desorption recording and modeling by the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) theory, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence (PL), and electron spin resonance (ESR). The solvothermal process did not modify the crystalline structure of the g-C3N4 and TiO2 but enhanced the surface area by interlayer delamination of g-C3N4. Under a simulated solar spectrum (including UVA/B and vis wavelengths), the degradation rate of AG-25 by the composite was two and four times higher than that of TiO2 and pure g-C3N4, respectively (0.04, 0.02, and 0.01 min−1). Unlike TiO2, the g-C3N4-TiO2 composite was activated with visible light (the UV portion of the solar spectrum was filtered out). This work provides insight into the contribution of various reactive oxidative species (ROS) to the degradation of AG-25 by the composite. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Heterojunction Photocatalysts)
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17 pages, 8781 KiB  
Article
Synergistic Effect of Amorphous Ti(IV)-Hole and Ni(II)-Electron Cocatalysts for Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance of Bi2WO6
by Chenjing Sun, Kaiqing Zhang, Bingquan Wang and Rui Wang
Catalysts 2022, 12(12), 1633; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/catal12121633 - 13 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1049
Abstract
Bi2WO6 has become a common photocatalyst due to its advantages of simple synthesis and high activity. However, the defects of pure Bi2WO6 such as low light reception hinder its application in photocatalysis. In this study, based on [...] Read more.
Bi2WO6 has become a common photocatalyst due to its advantages of simple synthesis and high activity. However, the defects of pure Bi2WO6 such as low light reception hinder its application in photocatalysis. In this study, based on the modification of Bi2WO6 with Ti(IV) as a cavity co-catalyst, new Ni- and Ti-doped nanosheets of Bi2WO6 (Ni/Ti-Bi2WO6) were prepared by a one-step wet thermal impregnation method and used for the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline. The experimental results showed that the photocatalytic activity of Ni/Ti-Bi2WO6 modified by the two-component catalyst was significantly better than those of pure Bi2WO6 and Ti-Bi2WO6 modified with Ti(IV) only. The photocatalytic effect of Ni/Ti-Bi2WO6 with different Ni/Ti molar ratios was investigated by the degradation of TC. The results showed that 0.4Ni/Ti-Bi2WO6 possessed the best photocatalytic performance, with a degradation rate of 92.9% at 140 min TC. The results of cycling experiments showed that the catalyst exhibited high stability after five cycles. The scavenger experiment demonstrated that the h+ and O2− were the main reactive species. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of Bi2WO6 could be attributed to the synergistic effect between the Ti(IV) as a hole cocatalyst and Ni(II) as an electron cocatalyst, which effectively promoted the separation of photogenerated carriers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Heterojunction Photocatalysts)
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16 pages, 3333 KiB  
Article
Direct Z-Scheme g-C3N5/Cu3TiO4 Heterojunction Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance of Chromene-3-Carbonitriles Synthesis under Visible Light Irradiation
by Murugan Arunachalapandi, Thangapandi Chellapandi, Gunabalan Madhumitha, Ravichandran Manjupriya, Kumar Aravindraj and Selvaraj Mohana Roopan
Catalysts 2022, 12(12), 1593; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/catal12121593 - 06 Dec 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2285
Abstract
In order to make the synthesis of pharmaceutically active carbonitriles efficient, environmentally friendly, and sustainable, the method is regularly examined. Here, we introduce a brand-new, very effective Cu3TiO4/g-C3N5 photocatalyst for the production of compounds containing chromene-3-carbonitriles. [...] Read more.
In order to make the synthesis of pharmaceutically active carbonitriles efficient, environmentally friendly, and sustainable, the method is regularly examined. Here, we introduce a brand-new, very effective Cu3TiO4/g-C3N5 photocatalyst for the production of compounds containing chromene-3-carbonitriles. The direct Z-Scheme photo-generated charge transfer mechanism used by the Cu3TiO4/g-C3N5 photocatalyst results in a suppressed rate of electron-hole pair recombination and an increase in photocatalytic activity. Experiments showed that the current method has some advantages, such as using an environmentally friendly and sustainable photocatalyst, having a simple procedure, quick reaction times, a good product yield (82–94%), and being able to reuse the photocatalyst multiple times in a row without noticeably decreasing its photocatalytic performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Heterojunction Photocatalysts)
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12 pages, 4000 KiB  
Article
Efficient Visible-Light Driven Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production by Z-Scheme ZnWO4/Mn0.5Cd0.5S Nanocomposite without Precious Metal Cocatalyst
by Tingting Ma, Zhen Li, Gan Wang, Jinfeng Zhang and Zhenghua Wang
Catalysts 2022, 12(12), 1527; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/catal12121527 - 27 Nov 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1100
Abstract
How to restrain the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes is still very important for photocatalytic hydrogen production. Herein, Z-scheme ZnWO4/Mn0.5Cd0.5S (ZWMCS) nanocomposites are prepared and are applied as visible-light driven precious metal cocatalyst free photocatalyst for [...] Read more.
How to restrain the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes is still very important for photocatalytic hydrogen production. Herein, Z-scheme ZnWO4/Mn0.5Cd0.5S (ZWMCS) nanocomposites are prepared and are applied as visible-light driven precious metal cocatalyst free photocatalyst for hydrogen generation. The ZnWO4/Mn0.5Cd0.5S nanocomposites with 30 wt% ZnWO4 (ZWMCS-2) can reach a photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of 3.36 mmol g−1 h−1, which is much higher than that of single ZnWO4 (trace) and Mn0.5Cd0.5S (1.96 mmol g−1 h−1). Cycling test reveals that the ZMWCS-2 nanocomposite can maintain stable photocatalytic hydrogen evolution for seven cycles (21 h). The type of heterojunction in the ZWMCS-2 nanocomposite can be identified as Z-scheme heterojunction. The Z-scheme heterojunction can effectively separate the electrons and holes, so that the hydrogen generation activity and stability of the ZWMCS-2 nanocomposite can be enhanced. This work provides a highly efficient and stable Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst for hydrogen generation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Heterojunction Photocatalysts)
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11 pages, 5025 KiB  
Article
Efficient and Stable Catalytic Hydrogen Evolution of ZrO2/CdSe-DETA Nanocomposites under Visible Light
by Zhen Li, Ligong Zhai, Tingting Ma, Jinfeng Zhang and Zhenghua Wang
Catalysts 2022, 12(11), 1385; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/catal12111385 - 08 Nov 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1383
Abstract
Composite photocatalysts are crucial for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. In this work, ZrO2/CdSe-diethylenetriamine (ZrO2/CdSe-DETA) heterojunction nanocomposites are synthesized, and efficiently and stably catalyzed hydrogen evolution under visible light. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) confirm [...] Read more.
Composite photocatalysts are crucial for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. In this work, ZrO2/CdSe-diethylenetriamine (ZrO2/CdSe-DETA) heterojunction nanocomposites are synthesized, and efficiently and stably catalyzed hydrogen evolution under visible light. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) confirm the formation of heterojunctions between ZrO2 (ZO) and CdSe-DETA (CS). Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-vis DRS), Mott–Schottky, and theoretical calculations confirm that the mechanism at the heterojunction of the ZrO2/CdSe-DETA (ZO/CS) nanocomposites is Type-I. Among the ZO/CS nanocomposites (ZO/CS-0.4, ZO/CS-0.6, and ZO/CS-0.8; in the nanocomposites, the mass ratio of ZO to CS is 0.1:0.0765, 0.1:0.1148, and 0.1:0.1531, respectively). ZO/CS-0.6 nanocomposite has the best photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity (4.27 mmol g−1 h−1), which is significantly higher than ZO (trace) and CS (1.75 mmol g−1 h−1). Within four cycles, the ZO/CS-0.6 nanocomposite maintains an efficient catalytic hydrogen evolution rate. Due to the existence of the heterojunction of the composites, the photogenerated electron-hole pairs can be effectively separated, which accelerates the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction and reduces the progress of photocorrosion. This work reveals the feasibility of ZO/CS nanocomposite photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Heterojunction Photocatalysts)
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11 pages, 4400 KiB  
Article
Construction of Novel Z-Scheme g-C3N4/AgBr-Ag Composite for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants under Visible Light
by Xuefeng Hu, Ting Luo, Yuhan Lin and Mina Yang
Catalysts 2022, 12(11), 1309; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/catal12111309 - 25 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1314
Abstract
As a green and sustainable technology to relieve environmental pollution issues, semiconductor photocatalysis attracted great attention. However, most single-component semiconductors suffer from high carrier recombination rate and low reaction efficiency. Here, we constructed a novel visible-light-driven Z-scheme g-C3N4/AgBr-Ag photocatalyst [...] Read more.
As a green and sustainable technology to relieve environmental pollution issues, semiconductor photocatalysis attracted great attention. However, most single-component semiconductors suffer from high carrier recombination rate and low reaction efficiency. Here, we constructed a novel visible-light-driven Z-scheme g-C3N4/AgBr-Ag photocatalyst (noted as CN-AA-0.05) using a hydrothermal method with KBr as the bromine source. The CN-AA-0.05 photocatalyst shows an excellent photocatalytic degradation performance, and a rhodamine B (RhB) degradation ratio of 96.3% in 40 min, and 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) degradation ratio of 99.2% in 18 min are achieved. Mechanistic studies show that the remarkable performance of CN-AA-0.05 is not only attributed to the enhanced light absorption caused by the Ag SPR effect, but also the efficient charge transfer and separation with Ag nanoparticles as the bridge. Our work provides a reference for the design and construction of efficient visible-light-responsive Z-scheme photocatalysts, and an in-depth understanding into the mechanism of Z-scheme photocatalysts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Heterojunction Photocatalysts)
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11 pages, 4060 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Photocatalysis of Ag Nanoparticles Decorated BaTiO3 Nanofibers through Plasmon-Induced Resonance Energy Transfer Turned by Piezoelectric Field
by Peng Chen, Xiu Li, Zeqian Ren, Jizhou Wu, Yuqing Li, Wenliang Liu, Peng Li, Yongming Fu and Jie Ma
Catalysts 2022, 12(9), 987; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/catal12090987 - 01 Sep 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1703
Abstract
Revealing the charge transfer path is very important for studying the photocatalytic mechanism and improving photocatalytic performance. In this work, the charge transfer path turned by the piezoelectricity in Ag-BaTiO3 nanofibers is discussed through degrading methyl orange. The piezo-photocatalytic degradation rate of [...] Read more.
Revealing the charge transfer path is very important for studying the photocatalytic mechanism and improving photocatalytic performance. In this work, the charge transfer path turned by the piezoelectricity in Ag-BaTiO3 nanofibers is discussed through degrading methyl orange. The piezo-photocatalytic degradation rate of Ag-BaTiO3 is much higher than the photocatalysis of Ag-BaTiO3 and piezo-photocatalysis of BaTiO3, implying the coupling effect between Ag nanoparticle-induced localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), photoexcited electron-hole pairs, and deformation-induced piezoelectric field. With the distribution density of Ag nanoparticles doubling, the LSPR field increases by one order of magnitude. Combined with charge separation driven by the piezoelectric field, more electrons in BaTiO3 nanofibers are excited by plasmon-induced resonance energy transfer to improve the photocatalytic property. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Heterojunction Photocatalysts)
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10 pages, 2713 KiB  
Article
α-Fe2O3/Reduced Graphene Oxide Composites as Cost-Effective Counter Electrode for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
by Lian Sun, Qian Zhang, Qijie Liang, Wenbo Li, Xiangguo Li, Shenghua Liu and Jing Shuai
Catalysts 2022, 12(6), 645; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/catal12060645 - 13 Jun 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1729
Abstract
The counter electrode (CE) is an important and vital part of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Pt CEs show high-performance in DSSCs using iodide-based electrolytes. However, the high cost of Pt CEs restricts their large-scale application in DSSCs and the development of Pt-free CE [...] Read more.
The counter electrode (CE) is an important and vital part of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Pt CEs show high-performance in DSSCs using iodide-based electrolytes. However, the high cost of Pt CEs restricts their large-scale application in DSSCs and the development of Pt-free CE is expected. Here, α-Fe2O3/reduced graphene oxide (α-Fe2O3/RGO) composites are prepared as the Pt-free CE materials for DSSCs. A simple hydrothermal technique was used to disseminate the α-Fe2O3 solid nanoparticles uniformly throughout the RGO surface. The presence of the α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles increases the specific surface area of RGO and allows the composites to be porous, which improves the diffusion of liquid electrolyte into the CE material. Then, the electrocatalytic properties of CEs with α-Fe2O3/RGO, α-Fe2O3, RGO, and Pt materials are compared. The α-Fe2O3/RGO CE has a similar electrocatalytic performance to Pt CE, which is superior to those of the pure α-Fe2O3 and RGO CEs. After being fabricated as DSSCs, the current–voltage measurements reveal that the DSSC based on α-Fe2O3/RGO CE has a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.12%, which is 88% that of Pt CE and much higher than that of pure α-Fe2O3 and pure RGO CEs. All the results show that this work describes a promising material for cost-effective, Pt-free CEs for DSSCs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Heterojunction Photocatalysts)
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18 pages, 8250 KiB  
Article
Highly Efficient and Selective Carbon-Doped BN Photocatalyst Derived from a Homogeneous Precursor Reconfiguration
by Qiong Lu, Jing An, Yandong Duan, Qingzhi Luo, Yunyun Shang, Qiunan Liu, Yongfu Tang, Jianyu Huang, Chengchun Tang, Rong Yin and Desong Wang
Catalysts 2022, 12(5), 555; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/catal12050555 - 18 May 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2247
Abstract
The modification of inert boron nitride by carbon doping to make it an efficient photocatalyst has been considered as a promising strategy. Herein, a highly efficient porous BCN (p-BCN) photocatalyst was synthesized via precursor reconfiguration based on the recrystallization of a new homogeneous [...] Read more.
The modification of inert boron nitride by carbon doping to make it an efficient photocatalyst has been considered as a promising strategy. Herein, a highly efficient porous BCN (p-BCN) photocatalyst was synthesized via precursor reconfiguration based on the recrystallization of a new homogeneous solution containing melamine diborate and glucose. Two crystal types of the p-BCN were obtained by regulating the recrystallization conditions of the homogeneous solution, which showed high photocatalytic activities and a completely different CO2 reduction selectivity. The CO generation rate and selectivity of the p-BCN-1 were 63.1 μmol·g−1·h−1 and 54.33%; the corresponding values of the p-BCN-2 were 42.6 μmol·g−1·h−1 and 80.86%. The photocatalytic activity of the p-BCN was significantly higher than those of equivalent materials or other noble metals-loaded nanohybrids reported in the literature. It was found that the differences in the interaction sites between the hydroxyl groups in the boric acid and the homolateral hydroxyl groups in the glucose were directly correlated with the structures and properties of the p-BCN photocatalyst. We expect that the developed approach is general and could be extended to incorporate various other raw materials containing hydroxyl groups into the melamine diborate solution and could modulate precursors to obtain porous BN-based materials with excellent performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Heterojunction Photocatalysts)
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Review

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24 pages, 7624 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in g-C3N4-Based Photocatalysts for NOx Removal
by Zhanyong Gu, Mengdie Jin, Xin Wang, Ruotong Zhi, Zhenghao Hou, Jing Yang, Hongfang Hao, Shaoyan Zhang, Xionglei Wang, Erpeng Zhou and Shu Yin
Catalysts 2023, 13(1), 192; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/catal13010192 - 13 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2345
Abstract
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) pollutants can cause a series of environmental issues, such as acid rain, ground-level ozone pollution, photochemical smog and global warming. Photocatalysis is supposed to be a promising technology to solve NOx pollution. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3 [...] Read more.
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) pollutants can cause a series of environmental issues, such as acid rain, ground-level ozone pollution, photochemical smog and global warming. Photocatalysis is supposed to be a promising technology to solve NOx pollution. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) as a metal-free photocatalyst has attracted much attention since 2009. However, the pristine g-C3N4 suffers from poor response to visible light, rapid charge carrier recombination, small specific surface areas and few active sites, which results in deficient solar light efficiency and unsatisfactory photocatalytic performance. In this review, we summarize and highlight the recent advances in g-C3N4-based photocatalysts for photocatalytic NOx removal. Firstly, we attempt to elucidate the mechanism of the photocatalytic NOx removal process and introduce the metal-free g-C3N4 photocatalyst. Then, different kinds of modification strategies to enhance the photocatalytic NOx removal performance of g-C3N4-based photocatalysts are summarized and discussed in detail. Finally, we propose the significant challenges and future research topics on g-C3N4-based photocatalysts for photocatalytic NOx removal, which should be further investigated and resolved in this interesting research field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Heterojunction Photocatalysts)
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22 pages, 3977 KiB  
Review
Recent Progress of Printing Technologies for High-Efficient Organic Solar Cells
by Zihao Xia, Ting Cai, Xiangguo Li, Qian Zhang, Jing Shuai and Shenghua Liu
Catalysts 2023, 13(1), 156; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/catal13010156 - 09 Jan 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3065
Abstract
Organic solar cells (OSCs), as a renewable energy technology that converts solar energy into electricity, have exhibited great application potential. With the rapid development of novel materials and device structures, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of non-fullerene OSCs has been increasingly enhanced, and [...] Read more.
Organic solar cells (OSCs), as a renewable energy technology that converts solar energy into electricity, have exhibited great application potential. With the rapid development of novel materials and device structures, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of non-fullerene OSCs has been increasingly enhanced, and over 19% has currently been achieved in single-junction devices. Compared with rigid silicon cells, OSCs have the characteristics of low cost, high flexibility, lightweight, and their inherent solution processability, which enables the devices to be manufactured by using printing technology for commercial applications. In recent years, to maximize the device performance of OSCs, many efforts have been devoted to improving the morphologies and properties of the active layer through various novel printing technologies. Herein, in this review, the recent progress and applications of several popular printing technologies to fabricate high-efficient OSCs are summarized, including blade-coating, slot-die coating, gravure printing, screen printing, inkjet printing, etc. The strengths and weaknesses of each printing technology are also outlined in detail. Ultimately, the challenges and opportunities of printing technology to fabricate OSC devices in industrial manufacturing are also presented. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Heterojunction Photocatalysts)
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