Construction of cerium oxide nanoparticles immobilized on the surface of zinc vanadate nanoflowers for accelerated photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under visible light irradiation

Bi-Doped and Bi Nanoparticles Loaded CeO2 Derived from Ce-MOF for Photocatalytic Degradation of Formaldehyde Gas and Tetracycline Hydrochloride

Bi/CeO2 (BC-x) photocatalysts are successfully prepared by solvothermal loading Bi nanoparticles and Bi-doped CeO2 derived by Ce-MOF (Ce-BTC). Formaldehyde gas (HCHO) and tetracycline hydrochloride (HTC) are used to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of the synthesized Bi/CeO2. For BC-1000 photocatalyst, the degradation of HTC by 420 nm < λ < 780 nm light reaches 91.89% for 90 min, and HCHO by 350 nm < λ < 780 nm light reaches 94.66% for 120 min. The photocatalytic cycle experiments prove that BC-1000 has good cyclic stability and repeatability. The results of photoluminescence spectra, fluorescence lifetime, photocurrent response, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed that the SPR (Surface Plasmon Resonance) effect of Bi nanoparticles acted as a bridge and promoted electron transfer and enhanced the response-ability of Bi/CeO2 to visible light. Bi-doping produced more oxygen vacancies to provide adsorption sites for adsorbing oxygen and generated more ·O2 - thus promoting photocatalytic reactions. The mechanism of photocatalytic degradation is analyzed in detail utilizing active free radical capture experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) characterization. The experimental results indicate that ·O2 - and h+ active free radicals significantly promote the degradation of pollutants.

Development of a visible-light-active-NiTiO3 coating for the efficient removal of the persistent herbicide 2,6-dichlorobenzamide (BAM) from drinking water

In the present research work, the photocatalytic evaluation of NiTiO3 nanoparticles immobilized on glass plates by the spin-coating procedure was carried out in the degradation of the recalcitrant herbicide 2,6-dichlorobenzamide (BAM). The concentrations of Ni employed to synthesize NiTiO3 nanoparticles were 1 wt% (1TESNi) and 2 wt% (2TESNi). The stability of coatings was evaluated by several washings and thermal treatments, which were verified by UV-vis analyses. The morphology of the coatings was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS). The coatings displayed thickness values of 1.35 and 2.56 μm for TiO2 and 1TESNi, respectively. The crystalline phases of the coatings were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), confirming the presence of NiTiO3 and other phases related to TiO2. The bandgap of 1TESNi, compared with the bare TiO2, was reduced from 2.96 to 2.40 eV as a consequence of Ni addition. The TiO2, 1TESNi and 2TESNi coatings were evaluated in the photodegradation of BAM using visible-light for 240 min. The highest effectiveness was displayed by the 1TESNi coating, obtaining degradation of 92.56% after 240 min. Also, the photocatalytic efficiency of the 1TESNi coating was only reduced 1.99% after 3 reuse cycles in the BAM degradation. The scavenger tests revealed that the main oxidizing species involved in the reaction were the •OH- and •O2- radicals. The 1TESNi coating showed the highest photocatalytic efficiency because of its absorption in the visible-light region, valuable surface area and electronic charge separation. Thus, these advantageous features guarantee that NiTiO3 coatings are an efficient method for degrading recalcitrant herbicides from drinking water using a practical way to recover and reuse photocatalysts.

A New Sensitive Fluorescence Sensor and Photocatalyst for Determination and Degradation of Sodium Valproate Using g-C3N4@Fe3O4@CuWO4 Nanocomposite and FCCD Optimization

In this research, carbon nitride nanocomposite coupled with Fe3O4 and CuWO4 was thermally synthesized and characterized by different techniques, including SEM, TEM, XRD, EDX, and FTIR. Due to sodium valproate's luminescence quenching of this nanocomposite, a reliable, accurate, sensitive, selective, and fast-acting sodium valproate assay was proposed. Optimization of this fluorescent sensor was carried out by the FCCD approach. In the optimum conditions, the plot of sodium valproate concentration versus nanocomposite fluorescence emission showed a linear response (R2 = 0.9918), with a range of 0-0.55 µM, the limit of detection (S/N = 3) equal to 0.85 nM and limit of qualification equal to 2.82 nM. Photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4@Fe3O4@CuWO4 (40%) nanocomposite exhibited a good potency to sodium valproate degradation. Active species of degradation including superoxide radicals, holes, and hydroxyl radicals were investigated using ammonium oxalate, benzoquinone, and 2-propanol to identify the mechanism of photodegradation action. The activity of benzoquinone in the photocatalytic process led to a reduction in the rate of analyte degradation, which indicates the prominent role of superoxide radicals compared to other species in the degradation process. The degradation rate of the analyte using the Fenton reagent was found to be around two times more than in the Fenton reagent-free process. The possible mechanism for the fluorescence sensor and photocatalytic degradation reaction was also discussed.

Degradation of formaldehyde by photo-Fenton process over n-ZVI/TiO2 catalyst

The degradation of formaldehyde in a photo-Fenton reaction was studied using n-ZVI/TiO2 as the catalyst. The effects of %n-ZVI loading, catalyst dosage, H2O2, and pH on formaldehyde degradation were studied. The n-ZVI/TiO2 catalysts were prepared by impregnation with chemical reduction, and their catalytic activity was evaluated in a batch reactor under UVC light. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to determine that the n-ZVI nanoparticle size was 39.41 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to study the oxidation states of 2%n‑ZVI/TiO2, and the Fe 2p spectrum of 2%n-ZVI/TiO2 indicated the presence of Fe0. The optimal conditions for the complete removal of formaldehyde within 30 min were an n-ZVI loading of 2 wt.%, a catalyst dosage of 0.5 g/L, 30 mM H2O2, and an initial pH of 3. After the reaction, the C-H functional group of formaldehyde was not observed due to the •OH radicals generated by Fe0 and H2O2 attacking the formaldehyde molecule. Moreover, no Fe leaching was observed, presenting an advantage compared with homogeneous Fe catalysts. Therefore, 2%n‑ZVI/TiO2 shows excellent potential as a photo-Fenton catalyst for the environmentally friendly degradation of formaldehyde.

Facile transfer of surface plasmon electrons of Au-NPs to Zn3V2O8 surfaces: a case study of sunlight driven H2 generation from water splitting

For future energy perspectives, an effective way to produce H2 from water splitting is suggested using Zn3V2O8 photocatalyst as a semiconductor support. Further, to enhance the catalytic efficiency and stability of the catalyst, gold metal was deposited over the Zn3V2O8 surface by a chemical reduction method. For comparison, the Zn3V2O8 and gold-fabricated catalysts (i.e., Au@Zn3V2O8) were used for water splitting reactions. For structural and optical properties, various techniques, including XRD, UV-Vis DRS, FTIR, PL, Raman, SEM, EDX, XPS and EIS were used for the characterizations. The scanning electron microscope revealed the pebble-shaped morphology of the Zn3V2O8 catalyst. The FTIR and EDX results confirmed the purity and structural and elemental composition of the catalysts. Overall, 7.05 mmol g-1 h-1 H2 generation was observed over Au1.0@Zn3V2O8, which was ten times higher than bare Zn3V2O8. The results revealed that the higher H2 activities could be attributed to the Schottky barriers and surface plasmon electrons (SPRs). Thus the Au@Zn3V2O8 catalysts have potential to deliver higher hydrogen generation than Zn3V2O8 by water splitting.

Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline under Visible Light by an All-Solid-State Z-Scheme Ag3PO4/MIL-101(Cr) Heterostructure with Metallic Ag as a Charge Transmission Bridge

The Z-type Ag/Ag₃PO₄/MIL-101(Cr) heterojunction photocatalyst (referred to as AAM-x) was successfully prepared by a simple in situ precipitation method. The photocatalytic activity of the AAM-x samples was evaluated using a common tetracycline (TC) antibiotic. All AAM-x materials are more effective in removing TC than Ag₃PO₄ and MIL-101(Cr). Among them, AAM-3 exhibited efficient photodegradation efficiency and excellent structural stability, and the removal rate of TC (20 mg L^-1) by AAM-3 (0.5 g L^-1) under 60 min of visible light was 97.9%. The effects of photocatalyst dosage, pH, and inorganic anions were also systematically investigated. According to the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, metallic silver particles appeared on the surface of the Ag₃PO₄/MIL-101(Cr) mixture during the catalyst synthesis. The results of photoluminescence spectra, photocurrent response, EIS, and fluorescence lifetime showed that AAM-3 has a high photogenic charge separation efficiency. An all-solid-state Z-type heterojunction mechanism including Ag₃PO₄, metallic Ag, and MIL-101(Cr) is proposed to rationalize the excellent photocatalytic performance and photostability of AAM-x composites and to explain the effect of metallic Ag acting as a charge transfer bridge. The TC intermediates were identified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and possible routes of TC degradation were also discussed. This work provides a viable idea for removing antibiotics by an Ag₃PO₄/MOF-based heterogeneous structured photocatalyst.

Enhancing the eosin-yellowish dye degradation in drinking water by using TiO2 coatings co-doped with Ni and In

This work reports on the structural, morphological, and photocatalytic properties of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and TiO₂:NiIn (T-NiIn) coatings fabricated by spin coating. The SEM images revealed coatings with average thicknesses of 3.59 and 3.37 μm for the TiO₂ and T-NiIn, respectively. EDS spectra and Raman studies confirmed the presence of TiO₂ co-doped with nickel (Ni) and indium (In) in the coatings. XRD analysis showed the anatase and rutile phases for the TiO₂ coatings, while the T-NiIn coatings presented the rutile and brookite phases. These samples were evaluated in the photocatalytic degradation of the eosin-yellowish (EY) dye. The T-NiIn coatings showed 9.1% higher effectiveness than the undoped TiO₂ coatings after 300 min under UV irradiation. Meanwhile, the T-NiIn coatings exposed to solar light removed 40% more dye than the TiO₂ coatings. Furthermore, T-NiIn coating was the most stable because its effectiveness was reduced by only 1.4% after 4 cycles of reuse. Additionally, the scavenger tests confirmed that the main oxidizing sites were the •OH^- radicals and the superoxides •O₂^-. Thus, the use of coatings based on TiO₂ co-doped with Ni and In is a feasible strategy to increase the degradation of the EY dye in drinking water.

Z-scheme promoted heterojunction photocatalyst (Ag@AgVO3 /rGO/CeVO4) with improved interfacial charge transfer for efficient removal of aqueous organics irradiated under LED light

A facile hydrothermal route was followed to obtain a ternary composite Ag@AgVO₃/rGO/CeVO₄ with in-situ deposition of Ag nanoparticles over the AgVO₃ nano-belts. The in-situ deposition was promoted and enhanced with the introduction of GO. The as-synthesized composite demonstrated remarkable visible light harvesting efficiency greater than 75% in the visible region. The charge separation and light harvesting properties were achieved through the Z-scheme mechanism mediated through rGO and the electron trapping/Schottky barrier effect from Ag nanoparticles. The reduction in the width of space charge region (∼2.5 times) and simultaneous increase in the density of charge carriers (2.3∗10¹⁸) promoted the LED irradiated photocatalytic performance. The decay time of the charge carriers were prolonged in the order of 4.46 s implying the enhancement in the charge separation. The studies were extended to charge trapping and the band structure modelling. The later emphasized on the prominence of Z-scheme mechanism with hole mediated degradation pathway. The LED photocatalysis demonstrated a removal efficiency of 87.20% for MB and 55.51% for phenol with a average AQE of 29.28% (MB) and 13.90% (phenol) for the ternary. The mineralization efficiency determined through TOC analysis was found to be 71.72%, and 66.43% for MB and phenol system respectively.

Photocatalytic oxidation degradation of tetracycline over La/Co@TiO2 nanospheres under visible light

The oxygen-vacancy-rich La/Co@TiO₂ nanospheres for the photo catalytic degradation of tetracycline were prepared by a simple two-step method. 3 wt%La/Co@TiO₂ nanospheres had better photocatalytic performance of the degradation of tetracycline than that of the other catalysts under visible light may be due to the synergistic effect between La/Co and TiO₂ and nano-confined effect. The catalytic experimental results showed the degradation ratio of tetracycline (40 mg/L) were 100% for 90 min. XPS, Raman, and photoelectrochemical results showed appropriate number of oxygen vacancies existed on the surface of TiO₂, which could improve the activation efficiency of dissolved oxygen in tetracycline solution because they accelerated the electron transfer rate in the system and inhibited the photoelectron-hole pair recombination under visible light. The EPR and radical scavenger tests showed h⁺, O₂^-, and ·OH were the main active species for the degradation of tetracycline. Also, the possible mechanism and intermediates of the tetracycline degradation process were speculated under the visible light. La/Co@TiO₂ nanospheres would be a promising photocatalyst for wastewater treatment.

Facile synthesis of multifunctional zinc vanadate/polyaniline composite for photocatalytic degradation and supercapacitor applications

Multifunctional Zn₃V₂O₈/Polyaniline (ZnV/PANI) composite was prepared by in-situ oxidative polymerization method. The formation of ZnV and ZnV/PANI composite was proved by various characterization tools including such as FTIR, XRD, SEM, BET, VSM, TEM and XPS analysis. The average crystalline size calculated using Scherrer equation of ZnV and ZnV/PANI were found to be 45 nm and 92 nm respectively. From the Tauc plots the bandgap values (E_g) were found to be 2.4 eV and 2.0 eV for ZnV and ZnV/PANI respectively. The FE-SEM images clearly show the flakes incorporated cluster-like morphology. The BET surface area of ZnV and ZnV/PANI was found to be 22 m² g^-1 and 40 m² g^-1. The XPS results also confirm the successful formation of ZnV/PANI composite. The as-prepared samples were utilized as photocatalyst and electrode materials for energy applications. The ZnV/PANI composite showed an outstanding photocatalytic activity (94%) in the degradation of aqueous RhB dye under visible light irradiation. The optimum catalyst dosage for the degradation of 50 mL of 1 × 10^-5 M RhB dye aqueous solution was 50 mg. The Langmuir-Hinselwood (L-H) kinetic model proves that the photodegradation mechanism follows pseudo-first order kinetics. Further, the supercapacitive behavior of the ZnV/PANI composite was tested using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) techniques in 1 M KOH electrolyte at the potential window of 0-0.55 V. ZnV/PANI electrode displayed a specific capacitance (C_sp) of 664 F g^-1 at 1 A/g. The satisfactory performance of ZnV/PANI composite is mainly ascribed to the synergistic effect of ZnV-PANI matrixes with the occurrence of multiple electroactive sites in the composite. The cycling stability test proved that ZnV/PANI electrode material retained 92% of its initial capacitance even after 6000 GCD cycles at 2 A/g. The finding of this study will help to determine the most efficient and cost-effective method for the removal of dyes from textile industry wastewater and also as an effective material for supercapacitor applications.

In suit constructing S-scheme FeOOH/MgIn2S4 heterojunction with boosted interfacial charge separation and redox activity for efficiently eliminating antibiotic pollutant

Photocatalytic elimination of antibiotic pollutant is an appealing avenue in response to the water contamination, but it still suffers from sluggish charge detachment, limited redox capacity as well as poor visible light utilization. Herein, a particular S-scheme FeOOH/MgIn₂S₄ heterojunction with wide visible light absorption was triumphantly constructed by in-situ growth of MgIn₂S₄ nanoparticles onto the surface of FeOOH nanorods, and employed as a high-efficiency visible light driven photocatalyst for removing tetracycline (TC). Conspicuously, the as-obtained FeOOH(15 wt%)/MgIn₂S₄ elucidated the optimal TC removal rate of 0.01258 min^-1 after 100 min of visible light illumination, which was almost 33.1 and 6.6 times larger than those of neat FeOOH and MgIn₂S₄, separately. The exceptional degradation performance was principally put down to the establishment of S-scheme heterojunction between FeOOH and MgIn₂S₄, which could not merely accelerate the detachment of photogenerated carriers, but also retain the powerful reducing ability of photoinduced electrons for MgIn₂S₄ and high oxidizing capacity of photoexcited holes for FeOOH, strongly driving the generation of plentiful active species including holes, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. Additionally, the possible degradation mechanism and pathways of TC were also speculated. This work offers a valuable perspective for constructing high-efficiency S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts for eradicating antibiotics.

Low temperature curable titanium-based sols for visible light photocatalytic coatings for glass and polymeric substrates

Titanium oxide (TiO2) is a widely used material in photocatalytic coatings in which efficiency generally lies in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum of light. Sol-gel method provides a simple and versatile...

Preparing a dual-function BiVO4/NiFe-LDH composite photoanode for enhanced photoelectrocatalytic wastewater treatment and simultaneous hydrogen evolution

The proposed PEC degradation over the BiVO4/NiFe-LDH photoelectrode under visible light irradiation and simultaneous hydrogen evolution at the cathode.

Fabrication of a high-efficiency CdS@TiO2@C/Ti3C2 composite photocatalyst for the degradation of TC-HCl under visible light

CdS@TiO2@C/Ti3C2 composites derived from Ti3C2 MXene exhibit outstanding photodegradation ability for TC-HCl under visible light irradiation.

MOF-5 derived ZnO-C nanoparticles combined with α-MnO2 for efficient degradation of tetracycline under visible light

A multifunctional α-MnO2/ZnO-C (MZ) Z-scheme photocatalyst was synthesized by suit-growth of α-MnO2 on the surface of MOF-5 and pyrolysis of the organic components in a certain condition. The obtained photocatalysts...

Z-Scheme MoS2/TiO2/graphene nanohybrid photocatalysts for visible light-induced degradation for highly efficient water disinfection and antibacterial activity

A new Z-scheme MoS2/TiO2/graphene nanohybrid effectively degraded antibiotics, heavy metals and microorganisms under visible irradiation.

Anchoring ZnIn2S4 nanosheets on ZSM-5 for boosting photocatalytic Cr(vi) reduction

ZSM-5@ZnIn2S4 is constructed for highly efficient photocatalytic Cr(vi) reduction.

Facile synthesis of MOF-808/AgI Z-scheme heterojunction with improved photocatalytic performance for the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride under simulated sunlight

The MOF-808/AgI Z-scheme heterojunction expanded the light absorption range and promoted the separation of electron–hole pairs, thus enhancing the photocatalytic activity.

Facile preparation of graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet/agar composite hydrogels for removal of tetracycline via the synergy of adsorption and photocatalysis

Compared with the BCN/agar composite hydrogel, the CNNS/agar 4 composite hydrogel exhibited a much higher photocatalytic activity for tetracycline degradation due to suppressive recombination of electrons and holes.

Pharmaceuticals removal by synergistic adsorption and S-scheme photocatalysis using nano-CeO2-coupled Fe3O4 on a CTAB matrix and investigation of the nanocomposite's antibacterial and antibiofilm activities: intrinsic degradation mechanism

S-Scheme photocatalytic mechanism of a fabricated nano-heterojunction.

Photo-induced charge separation Z-scheme mechanism in ternary Bismuth Sulfide coupled SnS/Al2O3 nanostructure

The establishment of solid-state Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalytic system to efficiently tailor the photo induced charge separation is of great significance to water purification. Metal sulfides nanoparticles, tin monosulphide (SnS) and...

Construction of a Bi2WO6/TiO2 heterojunction and its photocatalytic degradation performance

The preparation of the photocatalyst and its degradation mechanism to organic pollutants under visible light are shown in the graphical abstract.

A carbon nanowire-promoted Cu2O/TiO2 nanocomposite for enhanced photoelectrochemical performance

We started with earth abundant materials to design a heterojunction nanocomposite with excellent visible light photoelectrochemical performance and enhanced durability.

Preparation of Bi3Fe0.5Nb1.5O9/g-C3N4 heterojunction photocatalysts and applications in the photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol in environment

The energy band relationship and the active substances were studied to determine photocatalyst accords with the Z-type transfer mechanism.

A novel S-scheme heterojunction based on 0D/3D CeO2/Bi2O2CO3 for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants

A distinct S-scheme heterojunction of 0D/3D CeO2/Bi2O2CO3 photocatalyst was successfully synthesized via hydrothermal method employing for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB), tetracycline (TC) and aureomycin (AM). Compared with bare...

Direct complexation of citric acid to synthesize high-efficiency bismuth vanadate through molten polymerization route for the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride under visible light irradiation

Tetracycline hydrochloride can be efficiently degraded over BiVO4 prepared through direct citric acid complexation.

Conversion of scrap iron into ultrafine α-Fe2O3 nanorods for the efficient visible light photodegradation of ciprofloxacin

The present study illustrates a feasible approach of utilizing scrap iron for the synthesis of iron(ii) oxide.

Direct electrospinning preparation of Z-scheme mixed-crystal Bi2O3/g-C3N4 composite photocatalysts with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity

A novel Z-scheme mixed-crystal Bi₂O₃/g-C₃N₄ composite photocatalyst was successfully prepared by a simple electrospinning–calcination approach.