Plasmon mediated Fe-O in an octahedral site of cuprospinel by Cu NPs for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Cu NPs (copper nanoparticles) were synthesized in situ on the surface of CuFe₂O₄ (cuprospinel). The enhancement of the separation efficiency of photogenerated e^-/h⁺ and the catalytic quantum efficiency showed that the LSPR (local surface plasmon resonance) of Cu NPs facilitated the photocatalytic reaction activity of CuFe₂O₄. And due to the fact that CuFe₂O₄ was constructed with Cu-O in the tetrahedral site and Fe-O in the octahedral site, the results of DTG and Raman spectra after HER (hydrogen evolution reaction) displayed that the phase change of Fe-O in the octahedral site of CuFe₂O₄ took place during the HER process, and along with the peak of Fe²⁺ in XPS spectra after HER, which indicated that light activated Fe-O in the octahedral site was responsible for the photocatalytic process.

Fabrication of novel g-C3N4 nanocrystals decorated Ag3PO4 hybrids: Enhanced charge separation and excellent visible-light driven photocatalytic activity

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) nanocrystals (NCs) decorated Ag₃PO₄ hybrids were synthesized by a facile method. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The SEM and TEM images showed that the as-prepared Ag₃PO₄ were composed of particles with diameters of 200-500nm, while the obtained nanocrystalline g-C₃N₄ were composed of smaller particles with average diameter of 10nm. For nanocrystalline g-C₃N₄/Ag₃PO₄ hybrids, the particle surfaces of Ag₃PO₄ were decorated with numerous g-C₃N₄ NCs, result in a larger contact area between g-C₃N₄ and Ag₃PO₄. The photocatalytic performances were evaluated by decomposing MO, phenol, bisphenol A, and RhB under visible light. Compared with Ag₃PO₄ and g-C₃N₄, the g-C₃N₄/Ag₃PO₄ hybrid (mass ratio=1:4) exhibited the best activity, which was much higher than that of bulk-g-C₃N₄/Ag₃PO₄ composite under the same conditions. The enhanced activities should be mainly ascribed to the enhanced separation efficiency of photo-generated carriers, which was proved by the photoluminescence (PL) spectra measurement. Controlled experiments proved that O₂^- and h⁺ played the chief role in the degradation process. A possible Z-scheme degradation mechanism of organic contaminant over g-C₃N₄/Ag₃PO₄ hybrid was proposed.

Optoelectrical, morphological and mechanical features of nitrophenyl supported poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)s and their nanocomposites with TiO2

Charge transfer phenomenon and redox behaviour, of PPNO/PNPPO nanocomposites, triggered by TiO₂ nanoparticles.

Nano-fibrillated cellulose (NFC) as versatile carriers of TiO2 nanoparticles (TNPs) for photocatalytic hydrogen generation

Nano-fibrillated cellulose (NFC), an abundant natural biomacromolecule, can have many applications, such as support/carrier for nanoparticles, due to its unique properties.