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Benedoue S, Benedet M, Gasparotto A, Gauquelin N, Orekhov A, Verbeeck J, Seraglia R, Pagot G, Rizzi GA, Balzano V, Gavioli L, Noto VD, Barreca D, Maccato C. Insights into the Photoelectrocatalytic Behavior of gCN-Based Anode Materials Supported on Ni Foams. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:nano13061035. [PMID: 36985929 PMCID: PMC10057045 DOI: 10.3390/nano13061035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Graphitic carbon nitride (gCN) is a promising n-type semiconductor widely investigated for photo-assisted water splitting, but less studied for the (photo)electrochemical degradation of aqueous organic pollutants. In these fields, attractive perspectives for advancements are offered by a proper engineering of the material properties, e.g., by depositing gCN onto conductive and porous scaffolds, tailoring its nanoscale morphology, and functionalizing it with suitable cocatalysts. The present study reports on a simple and easily controllable synthesis of gCN flakes on Ni foam substrates by electrophoretic deposition (EPD), and on their eventual decoration with Co-based cocatalysts [CoO, CoFe2O4, cobalt phosphate (CoPi)] via radio frequency (RF)-sputtering or electrodeposition. After examining the influence of processing conditions on the material characteristics, the developed systems are comparatively investigated as (photo)anodes for water splitting and photoelectrocatalysts for the degradation of a recalcitrant water pollutant [potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHP)]. The obtained results highlight that while gCN decoration with Co-based cocatalysts boosts water splitting performances, bare gCN as such is more efficient in KHP abatement, due to the occurrence of a different reaction mechanism. The related insights, provided by a multi-technique characterization, may provide valuable guidelines for the implementation of active nanomaterials in environmental remediation and sustainable solar-to-chemical energy conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serge Benedoue
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Padova University and INSTM, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Laboratory of Applied Physical and Analytical Chemistry, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé, Yaoundé P.O. Box 812, Cameroon
| | - Mattia Benedet
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Padova University and INSTM, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Alberto Gasparotto
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Padova University and INSTM, 35131 Padova, Italy
- CNR-ICMATE and INSTM, Department of Chemical Sciences, Padova University, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Nicolas Gauquelin
- EMAT and NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Andrey Orekhov
- EMAT and NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Johan Verbeeck
- EMAT and NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Roberta Seraglia
- CNR-ICMATE and INSTM, Department of Chemical Sciences, Padova University, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Gioele Pagot
- Section of Chemistry for the Technology (ChemTech), Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova and INSTM, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Gian Andrea Rizzi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Padova University and INSTM, 35131 Padova, Italy
- CNR-ICMATE and INSTM, Department of Chemical Sciences, Padova University, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Balzano
- Interdisciplinary Laboratories for Advanced Materials Physics (i-LAMP), Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 25133 Brescia, Italy
| | - Luca Gavioli
- Interdisciplinary Laboratories for Advanced Materials Physics (i-LAMP), Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 25133 Brescia, Italy
| | - Vito Di Noto
- Section of Chemistry for the Technology (ChemTech), Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova and INSTM, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Davide Barreca
- CNR-ICMATE and INSTM, Department of Chemical Sciences, Padova University, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Chiara Maccato
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Padova University and INSTM, 35131 Padova, Italy
- CNR-ICMATE and INSTM, Department of Chemical Sciences, Padova University, 35131 Padova, Italy
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