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Preparation and Property Characterization of Novel Photocatalysts

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Catalytic Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 May 2023) | Viewed by 5579

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Prof. Dr. Jingfei Luan

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1. School of Physics, Changchun Normal University, Changchun 130032, China
2. State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
Interests: optimal preparation methods for photocatalysts; monocrystal photocatalysts; complex photocatalysts; heterogenous junction catalyst; property characterization of nanocatalyst; photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants; degradative pathway of organic pollutants; research on degradation mechanism
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Dear Colleagues,

The aim of this topic is to prepare various new photocatalysts, various composite photocatalysts, or composite heterojunction catalysts for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in dye wastewater, pesticide wastewater, or pharmaceutical wastewater under visible light irradiation or ultraviolet light irradiation. The catalysts can also be used for hydrogen production by water splitting. X-ray diffractometer, transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, X-ray photoelectric spectrometer, and other instruments can be used for characterizing the physical, chemical, and photochemical properties of the above catalysts such as their atomic space coordinates and crystal system structures. At the same time, the intermediate products of these target pollutants can be obtained using a liquid chromatography mass spectrometer. The degradation path of various target pollutants can be obtained, and the degradation mechanism of the organic pollutants can be achieved. New catalysts or new composite catalysts can be obtained by various preparation methods. Two major problems can be resolved by using the abovementioned catalysts. One is the conundrum of water environment pollution, and the other is producing hydrogen energy.

Dr. Jingfei Luan
Guest Editor

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Keywords

new photocatalysts
composite photocatalysts
degradation of organic pollutants
visible light irradiation
ultraviolet light irradiation
degradation path
hydrogen production by water splitting

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 5308 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Comparative Study in the Design of TiO₂ Assisted Photocatalytic Coatings Monitored by Controlling Hydrophilic Behavior and Rhodamine B Degradation

by Xabier Sandua, Pedro J. Rivero, Ana Conde, Joseba Esparza and Rafael Rodríguez

Materials 2023, 16(7), 2589; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma16072589 - 24 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1329

Abstract

This work presents a comparative study related to the photocatalytic efficiency associated with wettability measurements and organic dye degradation, as well as other relevant properties (i.e., corrosion resistance, roughness, wettability, and adhesion to a substrate). The photocatalytic precursors are titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) which are dispersed onto a polymeric electrospun fiber matrix by using three different deposition techniques such as electrospraying, spraying, and dip-coating, respectively. In this work, the host electrospun matrix is composed of poly(acrylic acid) fibers crosslinked with cyclodextrin (β-CD), which shows a good chemical affinity and stability with the other deposition techniques which are responsible for incorporating the TiO₂ NPs. In order to evaluate the efficacy of each coating, the resultant photocatalytic activity has been monitored by two different tests. Firstly, the reduction in the water contact angle is appreciated, and secondly, the degradation of an organic dye (Rhodamine B) is observed under UV irradiation. In addition, the final roughness, adherence, and pitting corrosion potential have also been controlled in order to determine which solution provides the best combination of properties. Finally, the experimental results clearly indicate that the presence of TiO₂ NPs deposited by the three techniques is enough to induce a super hydrophilic behavior after UV irradiation. However, there are notable differences in photocatalytic efficiency on the Rhodamine B as a function of the selected deposition technique. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preparation and Property Characterization of Novel Photocatalysts)

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25 pages, 11550 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation and Property Characterization of In₂YSbO₇/BiSnSbO₆ Heterojunction Photocatalyst toward Photocatalytic Degradation of Indigo Carmine within Dye Wastewater under Visible-Light Irradiation

by Jingfei Luan, Bowen Niu, Bingbing Ma, Guangmin Yang and Wenlu Liu

Materials 2022, 15(19), 6648; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma15196648 - 25 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1371

Abstract

In₂YSbO₇ and In₂YSbO₇/BiSnSbO₆ heterojunction photocatalyst were prepared by a solvothermal method for the first time. The structural characteristics of In₂YSbO₇ had been represented. The outcomes showed that In₂YSbO₇ crystallized well and possessed pyrochlore constitution, a stable cubic crystal system and space group Fd3m. The lattice parameter of In₂YSbO₇ was discovered to be a = 11.102698 Å and the band gap energy of In₂YSbO₇ was discovered to be 2.68 eV, separately. After visible-light irradiation of 120 minutes (VLGI-120M), the removal rate (ROR) of indigo carmine (IC) reached 99.42% with In₂YSbO₇/BiSnSbO₆ heterojunction (IBH) as a photocatalyst. The ROR of total organic carbon (TOC) reached 93.10% with IBH as a photocatalyst after VLGI-120M. Additionally, the dynamics constant k which was taken from the dynamic curve toward (DCT) IC density and VLGI time with IBH as a catalyst reached 0.02950 min⁻¹. The dynamics constant k which came from the DCT TOC density and VLGI time with IBH as a photocatalyst reached 0.01783 min⁻¹. The photocatalytic degradation of IC in dye wastewater (DW) with IBH as a photocatalyst under VLGI was in accordance with the first-order kinetic curves. IBH was used to degrade IC in DW for three cycles of experiments under VLGI, and the ROR of IC reached 98.74%, 96.89% and 94.88%, respectively, after VLGI-120M, indicating that IBH had high stability. Compared with superoxide anions or holes, hydroxyl radicals possessed the largest oxidative ability for removing IC in DW, as demonstrated by experiments with the addition of trapping agents. Lastly, the probable degradation mechanism and degradation pathway of IC were revealed in detail. The results showed that a visible-light-responsive heterojunction photocatalyst which possessed high catalytic activity and a photocatalytic reaction system which could effectively remove IC in DW were obtained. This work provided a fresh scientific research idea for improving the performance of a single catalyst. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preparation and Property Characterization of Novel Photocatalysts)

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26 pages, 54971 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis and Property Examination of Er₂FeSbO₇/BiTiSbO₆ Heterojunction Composite Catalyst and Light-Catalyzed Retrogradation of Enrofloxacin in Pharmaceutical Waste Water under Visible Light Irradiation

by Jingfei Luan, Wenlu Liu, Ye Yao, Bingbing Ma, Bowen Niu, Guangmin Yang and Zhijie Wei

Materials 2022, 15(17), 5906; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma15175906 - 26 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1168

Abstract

A new photocatalyst, Er₂FeSbO₇, was prepared by solid phase sintering using the high-temperature synthesis method for the first time in this paper. Er₂FeSbO₇/BiTiSbO₆ heterojunction (EBH) catalyst was prepared by the solvent thermal method for the first time. Er₂FeSbO₇ compound crystallized in the pyrochlore-type architecture and cubelike crystal system; the interspace group of Er₂FeSbO₇ was Fd3m and the crystal cellular parameter a of Er₂FeSbO₇ was 10.179902 Å. The band gap (BDG) width of Er₂FeSbO₇ was 1.88 eV. After visible light irradiation of 150 minutes (VLGI-150min) with EBH as a photocatalyst, the removal rate (RR) of enrofloxacin (ENR) concentration was 99.16%, and the total organic carbon (TOC) concentration RR was 94.96%. The power mechanics invariable k toward ENR consistency and visible light irradiation (VLGI) time with EBH as a photocatalyzer attained 0.02296 min⁻¹. The power mechanics invariable k which was involved with TOC attained 0.01535 min⁻¹. The experimental results showed that the photocatalytic degradation (PCD) of ENR within pharmaceutical waste water with EBH as a photocatalyzer under VLGI was in keeping with the single-order reactivity power mechanics. The RR of ENR with EBH as a photocatalyzer was 1.151 times, 1.269 times or 2.524 times that with Er₂FeSbO₇ as a photocatalyst, BiTiSbO₆ as a photocatalyst, or N-doping TiO₂ (N-TO) as a photocatalyst after VLGI-150min. The photocatalytic activity, which ranged from high to low among above four photocatalysts, was as follows: EBHP > Er₂FeSbO₇ > BiTiSbO₆ > N-TO. After VLGI-150min toward three periods of the project with EBH as a photocatalyst, the RR of ENR attained 98.00%, 96.76% and 95.60%. The results showed that the stability of EBH was very high. With appending trapping agent, it could be proved that the oxidative capability for degrading ENR, which ranged from strong to weak among three oxidic radicals, was as follows: superoxide anion > hydroxyl radicals (HRS) > holes. This work provides a scientific basis for the research and oriented leader development of efficient heterojunction catalysts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preparation and Property Characterization of Novel Photocatalysts)

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28 pages, 9352 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis, Performance Measurement of Bi₂SmSbO₇/ZnBiYO₄ Heterojunction Photocatalyst and Photocatalytic Degradation of Direct Orange within Dye Wastewater under Visible Light Irradiation

by Jingfei Luan, Bingbing Ma, Ye Yao, Wenlu Liu, Bowen Niu, Guangmin Yang and Zhijie Wei

Materials 2022, 15(11), 3986; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma15113986 - 03 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1294

Abstract

Originally, the new catalyst Bi₂SmSbO₇ was synthesized by the hydrothermal synthesis method or by the solid-phase sintering method at a lofty temperature. A solvothermal method was utilized to prepare a Bi₂SmSbO₇/ZnBiYO₄ heterojunction photocatalyst (BZHP). The crystal structure of Bi₂SmSbO₇ belonged to the pyrochlore structure and face-centered cubic crystal system by the space group of Fd3m. The cell parameter a was equivalent to 10.835(1) Å (Bi₂SmSbO₇). With Bi₂SmSbO₇/ZnBiYO₄ heterojunction (BZH) as the photocatalyst, the removal rate (RR) of direct orange (DO) and the total organic carbon were 99.10% and 96.21% after visible light irradiation of 160 min (VLI-160M). The kinetic constant k toward DO concentration and visible light irradiation time (VLI) with BZH as photocatalyst reached 2.167 min⁻¹. The kinetic constant k, which was concerned with total organic carbon, reached 0.047 min⁻¹. The kinetic curve that came from DO degradation with BZH as a catalyst under VLI conformed to the second-order reaction kinetics. After VLI-160M, the photocatalytic degradation (PD) removal percentage of DO with BZH as the photocatalyst was 1.200 times, 1.268 times or 3.019 times that with Bi₂SmSbO₇ as the photocatalyst, ZnBiYO₄ as the photocatalyst or with nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide as the photocatalyst. The photocatalytic activity (PA) was as following: BZH > Bi₂SmSbO₇ > ZnBiYO₄ > nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide. After VLI-160M for three cycles of experiments with BZH as the photocatalyst, the RR of DO reached 98.03%, 96.73% and 95.43%, respectively, which meant that BZHP possessed high stability. By using the experiment of adding a trapping agent, the oxidative purifying capability for degradation of direct orange, which was in gradual depressed order, was as following: hydroxyl radical > superoxide anion > holes. Finally, the possible degradation pathway and degradation mechanism of DO were discussed systematically. A new high active heterojunction catalyst BZHP, which could efficiently remove toxic organic pollutants such as DO from dye wastewater after VLI, was obtained. Our research was meant to improve the photocatalytic property of the single photocatalyst. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preparation and Property Characterization of Novel Photocatalysts)

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