Submit to Catalysts Review for Catalysts Propose a Special Issue

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Photocatalysis in Europe: Recent Advances and Future Prospects

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 10554

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Beata Tryba

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Catalytic and Sorbent Materials Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Engineering, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Pułaskiego 10, 70-322 Szczecin, Poland
Interests: photocatalysis for air and water purification; material science; water technology; adsorption and adsorbents; photocatalysts based on TiO₂; photocatalytic paints
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Beata Zielińska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Nanomaterials Physicochemistry Department, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Engineering, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin Al. Piastow 45, 70-311 Szczecin, Poland
Interests: photocatalysis; hybrid photocatalysts design; vis-light driven photocatalysts; photocatalysts based on graphitic carbon nitride

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will be dedicated to new trends and achievements in research work focused on photocatalysis and photocatalytic materials. It will include design and preparation of new structural materials with unique properties, development of new techniques used for photocatalysts characterization, application, and possible commercialisation of the obtained results. Photocatalytic reactions in water, gas phase, as well as in the environment of the microorganisms will be considered, including also generation of hydrogen, selective synthesis of organics, and self-cleaning and photocatalytic surfaces. Construction of the reactors and application of different sources of lights will be discussed. The impact of the environmental conditions on the yield of the photocatalytic reactions and the comparison of the laboratory tests with their commercial application will be considered. Some comments on the application of existing ISO standards for the photocatalytic tests will be included.

Prof. Dr. Beata Tryba
Assist. Prof. Beata Zielińska
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

photocatalyst/hybrid photocatalysts
photocatalytic mechanism
photocatalysis
hydrogen generation
sel-cleaning surfaces
materials characterization
synthesis method
photocatalytic inactivation of microorganisms
air/water purification

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Review

18 pages, 5029 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Synthesis Conditions of Nitrogen and Platinum Co-Doped Titania Films on the Photocatalytic Performance under Simulated Solar Light

by Daryna Ihnatiuk, Camilla Tossi, Ilkka Tittonen and Oksana Linnik

Catalysts 2020, 10(9), 1074; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/catal10091074 - 17 Sep 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2101

Abstract

Platinum and nitrogen co-doped titania films of different surface morphologies obtained via a sol-gel process have been tested for tetracycline hydrochloride photocatalytic decomposition under simulated solar light. Titania crystallization to anatase is shown by XRD for all films. A shift of the bandgap edge toward the visible region in absorption spectra and, consequently, a narrowing of the bandgap is observed for some films doped with nitrogen and/or exposed to UV pretreatment. The surface peculiarities of the samples are presented by an SEM and TEM investigation. The surface saturation by Pt and N with a homogeneous distribution of Pt ions on the surface as well as bulk as established by XPS and EDS data can be achieved with a certain synthesis procedure. The influence of the platinum content and of the pretreatment procedure on the state and atomic surface concentration of incorporated nitrogen and platinum is studied by XPS analysis: substitutional and interstitial nitrogen, non-metal containing fragments, Pt⁰, Pt²⁺ and Pt⁴⁺ ions. The photocatalytic activity of the films is ruled by the presence of Pt²⁺ ions and N rather than Pt⁰. The formation of the polycrystalline titania structure and Pt⁰ nanoparticles (NPs) is confirmed by TEM and electron diffraction images. The mechanism of primary photocatalytic processes is proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalysis in Europe: Recent Advances and Future Prospects)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 4319 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Core/Shell Structure of Mesoporous Carbon Spheres and g-C₃N₄ for Acid Red 18 Decolorization

by Martyna Baca, Małgorzata Aleksandrzak, Ewa Mijowska, Ryszard J. Kaleńczuk and Beata Zielińska

Catalysts 2019, 9(12), 1007; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/catal9121007 - 30 Nov 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3439

Abstract

Spherical photocatalyst based on ordered mesoporous carbon and graphitic carbon nitride with core/shell structure (CS/GCN) was successfully synthesized via facile electrostatic self-assembly strategy. The photocatalytic properties of the hybrid were evaluated by the decomposition of Acid Red 18 under simulated solar light irradiation in comparison to the bulk graphitic carbon nitride (GCN). The results clearly revealed that coupling of carbon nitride with mesoporous carbon allows the catalyst to form with superior photocatalytic performance. The photoactivity of CS/GCN was over nine times higher than that of pristine GCN. Introducing mesoporous carbon into GCN induced higher surface area of the heterojunction and also facilitated the contact surface between the two phases. The synergistic effect between those two components enhanced the visible light-harvesting efficiency and improved photoinduced charge carrier generation, and consequently their proper separation. The electrochemical behavior of the obtained composite was also evaluated by electrochemical impedance, transient photocurrent response and linear sweep potentiometry measurements. The results confirmed that transport and separation of charge carriers in the hybrid was enhanced in comparison to the reference bulk graphitic carbon nitride. Detailed electrochemical, photoluminescence and radical scavenger tests enabled determination of the possible mechanism of photocatalytic process. This work presents new insights to design a core/shell hybrid through the simple preparation process, which can be successfully used as an efficient photocatalyst for the treatment of wastewater containing dyes under solar light irradiation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalysis in Europe: Recent Advances and Future Prospects)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

26 pages, 5795 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Photocatalytic Decomposition of Acetaldehyde on Different TiO₂-Based Materials: A Review

by Beata Tryba, Piotr Rychtowski, Agata Markowska-Szczupak and Jacek Przepiórski

Catalysts 2020, 10(12), 1464; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/catal10121464 - 15 Dec 2020

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4299

Abstract

Purification of air from the organic contaminants by the photocatalytic process has been confirmed to be very perspective. Although many various photocatalysts have been prepared and studied so far, TiO₂ is still the most commonly used, because of its advantageous properties such as non-toxicity, relatively low cost and high stability. Surface modifications of TiO₂ were extensively proceeded in order to increase photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst under both UV and visible light activations. The intention of this review paper was to summarize the scientific achievements devoted to developing of TiO₂-based materials considered as photocatalysts for the photocatalytic degradation of acetaldehyde in air. Influence of the preparation and modification methods on the parameters of the resultant photocatalyst is reviewed and discussed in this work. Affinity of the photocatalyst surfaces towards adsorption of acetaldehyde will be described by taking into account its physicochemical parameters. Impact of the contact time of a pollutant with the photocatalyst surface is analyzed and discussed with respect to both the degradation rate and mineralization degree of the contaminant. Influence of the photocatalyst properties on the mechanism and yield of the photocatalytic reactions is discussed. New data related to the acetaldehyde decomposition on commercial TiO₂ were added, which indicated the different mechanisms occurring on the anatase and rutile structures. Finally, possible applications of the materials revealing photocatalytic activity are presented with a special attention paid to the photocatalytic purification of air from Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalysis in Europe: Recent Advances and Future Prospects)

► Show Figures