TiO2 Nanowire-Supported Sulfide Hybrid Photocatalysts for Durable Solar Hydrogen Production

Manipulation of interfacial charge dynamics for metal-organic frameworks toward advanced photocatalytic applications

Compared to other known materials, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have the highest surface area and the lowest densities; as a result, MOFs are advantageous in numerous technological applications, especially in the area of photocatalysis. Photocatalysis shows tantalizing potential to fulfill global energy demands, reduce greenhouse effects, and resolve environmental contamination problems. To exploit highly active photocatalysts, it is important to determine the fate of photoexcited charge carriers and identify the most decisive charge transfer pathway. Methods to modulate charge dynamics and manipulate carrier behaviors may pave a new avenue for the intelligent design of MOF-based photocatalysts for widespread applications. By summarizing the recent developments in the modulation of interfacial charge dynamics for MOF-based photocatalysts, this minireview can deliver inspiring insights to help researchers harness the merits of MOFs and create versatile photocatalytic systems.

Ultrasound-Driven Defect Engineering in TiO2-x Nanotubes─Toward Highly Efficient Platinum Single Atom-Enhanced Photocatalytic Water Splitting

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have demonstrated superior catalytic activity and selectivity compared to nanoparticle catalysts due to their high reactivity and atom efficiency. However, stabilizing SACs within hosting substrates and their controllable loading preventing single atom clustering remain the key challenges in this field. Moreover, the direct comparison of (co-) catalytic effect of single atoms vs nanoparticles is still highly challenging. Here, we present a novel ultrasound-driven strategy for stabilizing Pt single-atomic sites over highly ordered TiO2 nanotubes. This controllable low-temperature defect engineering enables entrapment of platinum single atoms and controlling their content through the reaction time of consequent chemical impregnation. The novel methodology enables achieving nearly 50 times higher normalized hydrogen evolution compared to pristine titania nanotubes. Moreover, the developed procedure allows the decoration of titania also with ultrasmall nanoparticles through a longer impregnation time of the substrate in a very dilute hexachloroplatinic acid solution. The comparison shows a 10 times higher normalized hydrogen production of platinum single atoms compared to nanoparticles. The mechanistic study shows that the novel approach creates homogeneously distributed defects, such as oxygen vacancies and Ti3+ species, which effectively trap and stabilize Pt2+ and Pt4+ single atoms. The optimized platinum single-atom photocatalyst shows excellent performance of photocatalytic water splitting and hydrogen evolution under one sun solar-simulated light, with TOF values being one order of magnitude higher compared to those of traditional thermal reduction-based methods. The single-atom engineering based on the creation of ultrasound-triggered chemical traps provides a pathway for controllable assembling stable and highly active single-atomic site catalysts on metal oxide support layers.

Efficient light-driven hydrogen evolution and azo dye degradation over the GdVO4@g-C3N4 heterostructure

A straightforward hydrothermal technique was used for the synthesis of a g-C₃N₄/GdVO₄ (CN/GdV) heterostructure as an alternate material for energy and environmental applications. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the synthesized g-C₃N₄ (CN), GdVO₄ (GdV), and the CN/GdV heterostructure. The characterization results revealed the distribution of GdV over CN sheets. The as-fabricated materials were tested for their capacity to evolve hydrogen gas and degrade two azo dyes (Amaranth; AMR and Reactive Red2; RR2) in the presence of visible light. When compared to pure CN and GdV, the efficiency of CN/GdV toward hydrogen evolution was high, with H₂ evolution of 8234, 10 838, and 16 234 μmol g^-1 in 4 h, respectively. The CN/GdV heterostructure was able to degrade 96% and 93% of AMR (60 min) and RR2 (80 min), respectively. The enhanced activity with CN/GdV could be attributed to the type-II heterostructure and decreased recombination of charge carriers. The intermediate analysis of AMR and RR2 degradation was conducted using mass spectrometry (MS). The mechanism of photocatalysis was investigated and is discussed based on the optical and electrochemical characterizations. The efficient photocatalytic characteristics of CN/GdV could promote further research on metal vanadate nanocomposite materials.

A Visible Light Driven Photoelectrochemical Chloramphenicol Aptasensor Based on a Gold Nanoparticle-Functionalized 3D Flower-like MoS2/TiO2 Heterostructure

Developing a photoactive material by combining the characteristics of a wide light response range and effective separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs remains a huge challenge for the construction of a photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing platform. Herein, a gold nanoparticle (AuNP)/MoS₂/TiO₂ composite was prepared through the facile hydrothermal method coupled with an in situ photoreduction technology. Benefiting from both the compositional and structure merits, the composite not only extends the absorption range to visible light but also enhances the photoelectric conversion efficiency by transferring photogenerated electrons into the conduction band of semiconductors from the plasmonic AuNP. Meanwhile, the thiolated aptamers were attached to the surface of AuNP/MoS₂/TiO₂ composites through the Au-S bonding to construct a visible light driven PEC aptasensor for ultrasensitive detection chloramphenicol (CAP). In the presence of CAP, the aptamers anchored on the surface of the photoactive materials could specifically recognize CAP and interact with it to form a bioaffinity complex with a steric hindrance effect, resulting in the rapid decrease of photocurrent responses. Based on this photocurrent suppression strategy, the constructed PEC aptasensing platform exhibited a high sensitivity with a wide linear range from 5 pM to 100 nM and a low detection limit of 0.5 pM.

Novel ultralong and photoactive Bi2Ti4O11/TiO2 heterojunction nanofibers toward efficient textile wastewater treatment

The elimination of dyes from textile wastewater with a lower carbon footprint is highly contingent on the design of green catalysts. Here, we innovatively developed ultralong one-dimensional Bi₂Ti₄O₁₁/TiO₂ heterojunction nanofibers via electrospinning so as to photocatalytically degrade dyes efficiently and sustainably through the utilisation of renewable solar irradiation. The heterostructured Bi₂Ti₄O₁₁/TiO₂ nanofibers exhibited desirable activity in the visible light region through the slight shift of the absorption edge to a longer wavelength. The Bi₂Ti₄O₁₁/TiO₂ nanofibers calcined at 550 °C had a lower optical band gap (3.08 eV) than that of the pure TiO₂ (3.32 eV), as evidenced by their higher photocatalytic degradation kinetics of a model dye (Acid Orange 7) (2.5 times greater than those of pure TiO₂). The enhanced visible light photocatalytic performance arose from the formation of both the Bi₂Ti₄O₁₁/TiO₂ heterojunction and the effective separation of photogenerated holes and electrons. The employment of ultralong Bi₂Ti₄O₁₁/TiO₂ heterojunction nanofibers for dye removal/decolourisation under visible light is an efficient, cost effective and sustainable solution, which will provide significant insights for practical textile wastewater treatment in view of practical engineering applications.

The elimination of dyes from textile wastewater with a lower carbon footprint is highly contingent on the design of green catalysts.

Hydrothermally synthesized titanate nanomaterials for the removal of heavy metals and radionuclides from water: A review

Hazardous heavy metals and radionuclides in water and wastewater are of drastic concern owing to their detrimental impacts on the organisms as well as the circumambient ecosystem. To remove them as much as we can, both technique and materials were studied in the past years. The adsorption technique as superior water remediation method with the simplicity of design, environmental friendliness and high efficiency was well established. Consequently, it is practically important to explore advanced and economically feasible absorbents for removing these poisonous pollutants from aqueous solutions. So far, large numbers of experiments proved hydrothermally synthesized titanate nanomaterials (TNMs) could be a prospectively excellent adsorbent extracting heavy metals and radionuclides from water due to the high specific surface area, tunable pore size, abundant surface active sites, favorable hydrophilic properties. The objective of this work is to give an overview of hydrothermal synthesis, adsorption performance of TNMs for heavy metals and radionuclides, as well as the various influencing factors for water purification. It comprehensively reviews the structural changes and regenerability of TNMs after adsorption, and different modification methods adopted for improving removal capacity. Additionally, it uniquely highlights the efficient decontamination of the pollutants through a synergistic effect of adsorption and photocatalysis by TNMs. This review provides detailed information for the development, application, and research challenges faced by hydrothermally synthesized TNMs for the removal of heavy metals and radionuclides from aqueous solutions, which will serve as a reference guide for scientists in related fields.

Toward efficient photocatalysts for light-driven CO2 reduction: TiO2 nanostructures decorated with perovskite quantum dots

Nanostructured TiO2 is often used for photocatalytic CO2 conversion due to its favorable electronic properties and stability, being coupled with large surface area and unique electrical properties. However, pure TiO2, without any expensive cocatalysts, can not provide highly efficient CO2 conversion because its bandgap and resulted limited numbers of photogenerated electrons and holes limit efficient energy conversion. Here, we demonstrate TiO2 nanotube (TNT) photocatalysts equipped with two different perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) made of CH3NH3PbBr3 and CH3NH3PbI3. The fundamental properties of the PQDs and TNT/PQD photocatalysts are investigated and their potential for more efficient CO2 conversion are discussed, to our best knowledge, for the first time. TNT/CH3NH3PbI3 QD photocatalysts absorb a wider range of light energy and show superior charge transport characteristics due to less sensitivity against surface states at TNT/CH3NH3PbI3 QD interface than the TNT/CH3NH3PbBr3 photocatalysts.

A Three-Dimensional Branched TiO2 Photoanode with an Ultrathin Al2O3 Passivation Layer and a NiOOH Cocatalyst toward Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting provides an alternative strategy for clean and renewable hydrogen production; however, the practical application is severely limited by the low solar conversion. Herein, a novel and simple strategy has been developed to construct a 3D branched TiO₂ photoanode with an ultrathin Al₂O₃ passivation layer and NiOOH cocatalyst. The structure and properties of the as-obtained photoanodes are explored by X-ray diffraction, Mott-Schottky, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and open circuit voltage measurements. The as-obtained B-TiO₂/Al₂O₃/NiOOH ternary heterojunction with a high-quality contact interface exhibits improved light absorption ability, an enhanced photocurrent density of 1.42 mA/cm² at 1.23 V_RHE, high conversion efficiency (0.44% at 0.80 V_RHE), and excellent stability compared to pristine TiO₂ and alone-Al₂O₃ or NiOOH decorated TiO₂ photoanodes. Therefore, this work could offer a new approach to designing and fabricating high-quality contact interfaces between photoelectrodes and various cocatalysts.

Yolk-shell nanostructures: synthesis, photocatalysis and interfacial charge dynamics

Solar energy has long been regarded as a promising alternative and sustainable energy source. In this regard, photocatalysts emerge as a versatile paradigm that can practically transform solar energy into chemical energy. At present, unsatisfactory conversion efficiency is a major obstacle to the widespread deployment of photocatalysis technology. Many structural engineering strategies have been proposed to address the issue of insufficient activity for semiconductor photocatalysts. Among them, creation of yolk-shell nanostructures which possess many beneficial features, such as large surface area, efficient light harvesting, homogeneous catalytic environment and enhanced molecular diffusion kinetics, has attracted particular attention. This review summarizes the developments that have been made for the preparation and photocatalytic applications of yolk-shell nanostructures. Additional focus is placed on the realization of interfacial charge dynamics and the possibility of achieving spatial separation of charge carriers for this unique nanoarchitecture as charge transfer is the most critical factor determining the overall photocatalytic efficiency. A future perspective that can facilitate the advancement of using yolk-shell nanostructures in sophisticated photocatalytic systems is also presented.

Construction of a novel 2D–2D heterojunction by coupling a covalent organic framework and In2S3 for photocatalytic removal of organic pollutants with high efficiency

TpPa-1 COF was coupled with an inorganic narrow-band gap semiconductor In2S3 to form a novel 2D–2D heterojunction by a facile hydrothermal method.

Controllable growth of MoS2 nanosheets on TiO2 burst nanotubes and their photocatalytic activity

MoS2 nanosheets were grown on TiO2 nanotubes by the simple hydrothermal method for the first time. The layer-by-layer growth of MoS2 nanosheets led to a significant increase in the specific surface area of TiO2/MoS2 burst tube composites compared with TiO2 burst tubes, a significantly enhanced ability to separate photo-induced carriers, and synergistic adsorption and visible light catalytic activity of dye molecules. The maximum adsorption (q max) of MB was 72.46 mg g-1. In addition, 94.1% of MB could be degraded after 30 minutes of visible light irradiation. The microsurface morphology, structure, chemical composition, element valence and band width of TiO2/MoS2 nanocomposites were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The mechanism of photocatalytic reaction was studied via free radical capture experiments.

Pt Deposites on TiO2 for Photocatalytic H2 Evolution: Pt Is Not Only the Cocatalyst, but Also the Defect Repair Agent

Pt, as a common cocatalyst, has been widely used in photocatalytic H2 evolution. However, the specific role of Pt in photocatalytic H2 evolution has not been thoroughly studied. In this paper, by employing three Pt sources with different charges (positive, negative and neutral), we systematically studied the charge effect of Pt sources on photocatalytic H2 evolution via TiO2 catalyst. According to the results of Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), recycle experiments and photocurrent characterizations, it was found that TiO2 would produce electropositive defects during photocatalytic H2 evolution, inevitably leading to the decline of H2 production activity. Thanks to the electrostatic interaction, the electronegative Pt source not only promoted charge separation, but preferential deposited on electropositive defects, which acted as the defect repair agent, and thus resulted in the increased photocatalytic stability. This work may provide a new perspective for enhancing photocatalytic stability of hydrogen production.

Effect of triblock copolymers on crystal growth and the photocatalytic activity of anatase TiO2 single crystals

In order to evaluate the effect of a triblock copolymer on the growth of TiO₂ crystals, anatase TiO₂ crystals with different morphologies and structures were synthesized by controlling the content and type of triblock copolymer in the solvothermal route. The resulting samples were characterized by XRD, XPS, SEM, TEM and EDX. The characterization results show that hydrofluoric acid can promote the formation of highly active (001) facets by the formation of a Ti–F bond. The triblock copolymers (P123 and F127) refine the surface structure of polycrystalline spherical TiO₂ and make the crystal surface homogeneous and smooth. Moreover, P123 causes the agglomeration effect and hinders the recrystallization process of anatase TiO₂ single crystals, and this will lead to corrosion of the crystal facets. Meanwhile, F127 destroys crystal formation and hinders crystal growth due to its special micelle structure. In addition, research on the photocatalytic activity proposed that the integrity of the (001) and (101) facets was a critical factor in the photocatalytic reaction. The resultant anatase TiO₂ single crystals could produce more hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) in the photocatalytic system, which exhibited remarkable photocatalytic performance for the degradation of three types of dye.

The effects of triblock copolymers (P123 and F127) on the growth of TiO₂ crystals were studied. Anatase TiO₂ crystals with different morphologies and structures were synthesized by controlling the content and type of triblock copolymer in a solvothermal method.

Photocatalytic partial oxidation of methanol to methyl formate under visible light irradiation on Bi-doped TiO2 via tuning band structure and surface hydroxyls

Preparing visible light responsive catalysts for partial oxidation of methanol to methyl formate is a challenging issue. This work addresses the synthesis, characterization and theoretical calculation of Bi doped TiO₂ catalysts as well as their photocatalytic performance and reaction mechanism for MF synthesis from methanol. The catalysts were prepared by a simple wet chemical method. The results of the characterization and theoretical calculation evidenced that bismuth was intercalated in the lattice of anatase by the substitution of titanium. Impurity levels were formed in the valence band, conduction band and between the two bands. The Bi 6s and 5p orbitals contributed to the formation of the impurity levels. The photo-excited electrons transited from the valence band via impurity levels, formed by Bi 6s orbitals, to the conduction band. The doping of Bi enhanced surface hydroxyls, reduced the band gaps and raised the valence band edges (VBE) of the Bi doped catalyst. The Bi doped catalysts were visible light responsive due to the reduced band gap. The surface hydroxyls were beneficial to the methanol conversion, and the rise of the VBE enhanced the redox potential of the photogenerated holes. Only moderate redox potentials and sufficient surface hydroxyls could lead to high methanol conversion and MF selectivity. This study is of great significance to the development of the photocatalytic synthesis theory and provides a green route for MF synthesis from methanol.

Bi-doped titania is well studied for photocatalytic partial oxidation of methanol to methyl formate under visible light irradiation.

Nitrogen/Carbon-Coated Zero-Valent Copper as Highly Efficient Co-catalysts for TiO2 Applied in Photocatalytic and Photoelectrocatalytic Hydrogen Production

Zero-valent copper (Cu⁰) is a promising co-catalyst in semiconductor-based photocatalysis as it is inexpensive and exhibits electronic properties similar to those of Ag and Au. However, its practical application in photocatalytic hydrogen production is limited by its susceptibility to oxidation, forming less active Cu species. Herein, we have carried out in situ encapsulation of Cu⁰ nanoparticles with N-graphitic carbon layers (14.4% N) to stabilize Cu⁰ nanoparticles (N/C-coated Cu) and improve the electronic communication with a TiO₂ photocatalyst. A facile solvothermal procedure is used to coat the Cu⁰ nanoparticles at 200 °C, while graphitization is achieved by calcination at 550 °C under an inert atmosphere. The resultant N/C-coated Cu/TiO₂ composites outperform the uncoated Cu counterparts, exhibiting a 27-fold enhancement of the hydrogen evolution rate compared to TiO₂ and achieving a rate of 19.03 mmol g^-1 h^-1 under UV-vis irradiation. Likewise, the N/C-coated Cu co-catalyst exhibits a less negative onset potential of -0.05 V toward hydrogen evolution compared to uncoated Cu (ca. -0.30 V). This superior activity is attributed to coating Cu⁰ with N/C, which enhances the stability, electronic communication with TiO₂, conductivity, and interfacial charge transfer processes. The reported synthetic approach is simple and scalable, yielding an efficient and affordable Cu⁰ co-catalyst for TiO₂.

In Situ Formation of Oxygen Vacancies Achieving Near-Complete Charge Separation in Planar BiVO4 Photoanodes

Despite a suitable bandgap of bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄ ) for visible light absorption, most of the photogenerated holes in BiVO₄ photoanodes are vanished before reaching the surfaces for oxygen evolution reaction due to the poor charge separation efficiency in the bulk. Herein, a new sulfur oxidation strategy is developed to prepare planar BiVO₄ photoanodes with in situ formed oxygen vacancies, which increases the majority charge carrier density and photovoltage, leading to a record charge separation efficiency of 98.2% among the reported BiVO₄ photoanodes. Upon loading NiFeO_x as an oxygen evolution cocatalyst, a stable photocurrent density of 5.54 mA cm^-2 is achieved at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) under AM 1.5 G illumination. Remarkably, a dual-photoanode configuration further enhances the photocurrent density up to 6.24 mA cm^-2 , achieving an excellent applied bias photon-to-current efficiency of 2.76%. This work demonstrates a simple thermal treatment approach to generate oxygen vacancies for the design of efficient planar photoanodes for solar hydrogen production.

BiOCl/WS2 hybrid nanosheet (2D/2D) heterojunctions for visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of organic/inorganic water pollutants

This report presents the superior visible-light-driven photocatalytic response of novel 2D/2D BiOCl/WS₂ (BW _X ) hybrid nanosheet heterojunctions prepared by a simple solution based sonochemical technique. These BW _X hybrid nanosheets are composed of 2D transition metal dichalcogenide material WS₂ and BiOCl nanosheets. The comparative study of photocatalytic activity of BiOCl and BiOCl/WS₂ hybrid nanosheets is carried out via photodegradation of Malachite Green (MG) and photoreduction of heavy metal ion Cr(vi) under visible light irradiation. The quantum efficiency of the samples is estimated in terms of the incident photon to electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) measurements. Nearly 98.4% of the MG degradation was achieved over BiOCl/WS₂ (2%) photocatalyst in 45 min of irradiation. BiOCl/WS₂ (2%) hybrid nanosheet catalyst showed the highest external quantum efficiency (EQE) in both the UV and visible regimes. This accomplishment demonstrated the promise of commercial application of the 2D/2D BiOCl/WS₂ (2%) hybrid nanosheet photocatalyst.

Simple synthesis of hierarchically porous Sn/TiO2/graphitic carbon microspheres for CO2 reduction with H2O under simulated solar irradiation

A simple colloidal crystal template method was used to prepare Sn/TiO₂/graphite carbon microsphere composites (xSn/TiO₂/GCM, x = 2.0, 1.0, 0.2, 0.5) with porous layers. Then, the composites were represented using X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen physical adsorption/desorption. Meanwhile, the photocatalytic activities in CO₂ reduction were studied under simulation of visible light exposure. It was confirmed that the Sn/TiO₂/GCM composites had layered porosity, graphitized carbon matrix, and high metal compound content, and their morphology was greatly affected by the acetone amount. The outputs of CO and CH₄ coming into the photocatalytic CO₂ reduction reaction of Sn/TiO₂/GCM were 619.46 and 14.46 μmol g^-1, respectively. Among the two products, the highest production rate observed in 0.5Sn/TiO₂/GCM. Because of these factors, the layered porous Sn/TiO₂/GCM composites have good photocatalytic performance under simulated visible light irradiation and have unique composition and structure characteristics, which give broad application prospects in electrode materials, catalysts, and adsorbents. Graphical abstract.

Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water-Splitting Property on TiO2 Nanotubes by Surface Chemical Modification and Wettability Control

We report a simple method to control the photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting performance of TiO₂ nanotube arrays (NTs) by surface chemical modification. Four types of modifier molecules with different surface energy and functional groups, including amine (-NH₂), n-alkane (-C_nH_2n+1), perfluoroalkyl (-F), and polymer molecule (-polymer), were self-assembled to the surface of TiO₂ NTs, which could change the surface chemical composition and wettability from superhydrophilicity to hydrophobicity. Interestingly, different from expected results, photoelectrochemical measurement results show that the n-octadecyltrichlorosilane-modified TiO₂ nanotube arrays with a contact angle of about 134° present the highest PEC property with doubled photocurrent density and more negative onset potential. And the total PEC performance order of the monolayers-modified TiO₂ NTs is (-C_nH_2n+1) > (-F) > (-NH₂) > (-OH, pristine TiO₂) > (-polymer), which is due to the molecular monolayers modification being able to suppress the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes and facilitate water oxidation by regulating the interface electric double layer, whereas a thick polymer layer on the photoelectrode surface would affect the light absorbance and decrease the PEC performance. Further investigation indicates that the surface energy and wettability of the TiO₂ photoelectrode adjusted by surface modification also have an important influence on the interface reaction of water oxidation and the adsorption/desorption of newly formed oxygen, which also provides a new method for controlling the surface photocatalytic reactions.

Au-Mediated Charge Transfer Process of Ternary Cu2O/Au/TiO2-NAs Nanoheterostructures for Improved Photoelectrochemical Performance

Based on a facile three-step preparation method, Cu2O/Au/TiO2-NAs ternary heterojunction nanocomposites have been successfully synthesized by electrodepositing a Cu2O layer on the surface of Au nanoparticles (NPs) decorated highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays (NAs). The structure, surface morphology, chemical composition, and optical and intrinsic defects properties of the as-prepared samples are characterized by transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM and SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis light absorbance spectra, Raman scattering, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Simultaneously, the Cu2O/Au/TiO2-NAs ternary nanohybrids exhibited progressively improved photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) performance compared with the dual Cu2O/TiO2-NAs type-II nanoheterojunctions, confirming by the photocurrent density versus testing time curve (amperometric I-t curve), open-circuit potential versus testing time curve (V oc-t curve), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements, which were mainly ascribed to the synergistic effect of reduced interfacial charge transfer resistance and boosted energetic charge carriers generation associated with embedding Au NPs. Furthermore, the self-consistent charge transfer mechanism of Z-scheme and interband transitions mediated with Au NPs for Cu2O/Au/TiO2-NAs triple nanocomposites is proposed, which was evaluated by nanosecond time-resolved transient photoluminescence (NTRT-PL) spectra excited by 266 and 400 nm, respectively. Following this scheme, UV-vis light photocatalytic activities of Cu2O/Au/TiO2-NAs ternary nanohybrids were elaborated toward photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) in aqueous solution, and the photodegradation rate of optimum triple nanocomplex was found to be 90%.

Effect of polyethylene glycol on crystal growth and photocatalytic activity of anatase TiO2 single crystals

In order to evaluate the effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the growth of TiO₂ crystals, anatase TiO₂ crystals with different morphologies and structures were synthesized by controlling the content and type of PEG in a solvothermal system. Then, their morphology and structure were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Characterization results show that hydrofluoric acid can promote the formation of high activity (001) facets. Experiments on the effect of PEG on crystal growth show that the low molecular weight PEG (PEG400) can accelerate crystal differentiation and relieve the agglomeration of crystals in the presence of hydrofluoric acid. Besides, according to the experimental results, we found that PEG400 can reduce the agglomeration size and number of TiO₂ polycrystalline particles. Research on the photocatalytic activity proposed that the independence of single crystal and the integrity of (001) facets are the critical factors in advanced oxidation reaction. The resultant anatase TiO₂ single crystals could produce more hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) in the photocatalytic system, which exhibited remarkable photocatalytic performance for the degradation of Acid Red B.

Anatase TiO₂ crystals with different structures were synthesized. Experiments on the effect of polyethylene glycol show that the low molecular weight PEG (PEG400) can accelerate crystal differentiation and relieve the agglomeration of crystals.

Hydrogen Production System by Light-Induced α-FeOOH Coupled with Photoreduction

Solar-driven catalysts on semiconductors to produce hydrogen are considered as a means to solve environmental issues. In this study, H₂ production coupling with oxygen consumption by noble metal-free α-FeOOH was demonstrated even though the conduction band edge was lower than the reduction potential of H⁺ to H₂ . For activation of α-FeOOH, an electron donor, Hg-Xe irradiation, and low pH (ca. 5) were indispensable factors. The H₂ production from H₂ O was confirmed by GC-MS using isotope-labeled water (D₂ O) and deuterated methanol. The α-FeOOH synthesized by coprecipitation method showed 25 times more active than TiO₂ . The photocatalytic activity was stable for over 400 h. Our study suggests that α-FeOOH known as rust can produce H₂ by light induction.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of an RGO/CdS/TiO2 step-scheme with exposed TiO2 {001} facets and enhanced visible photocatalytic activity

Semiconductor-based heterojunction photocatalysts with a special active crystal surface act as an essential part in environmental remediation and renewable energy technologies. In this study, an RGO/CdS/TiO₂ step-scheme with high energy {001} TiO₂ facets was successfully fabricated via a microwave-assisted solvothermal method. The photocatalytic performance of as-prepared samples was assessed by degrading methylene blue under visible light irradiation. We found that the photocatalytic activity of the RGO/CdS/TiO₂ step-scheme heterojunction was related to the proportion of TiO₂. A ternary sample with a TiO₂ content of 10 wt% exhibited superior photocatalytic performance, and approximately 99.7% of methylene blue was degraded during 50 min of visible illumination which was much higher than the percentages found for TiO₂, CdS, RGO/TiO₂, and RGO/CdS. The greatly improved photocatalytic performance is due to the exposure of the reactive {001} surface of TiO₂ and the formation of a CdS/TiO₂ heterojunction step-scheme, which effectively inhibits the recombination of charge carriers at the heterogeneous interfaces. Moreover, the incorporation of graphene further enhances the visible light harvesting and serves as an electron transport channel for rapidly separating photogenerated carriers. Based on the PL, XPS, photoelectrochemical properties and the free radical capturing experiment results, a possible photodegradation mechanism was proposed.

The photocatalytic enhancement of RGO/CdS/TiO₂ is due to the high-energy {001} surface of TiO₂ and CdS forming a stepped heterojunction, which is dispersed on the surface of reduced graphene oxide.

Two new inorganic–organic hybrid zinc phosphites and their derived ZnO/ZnS heterostructure for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production

Two novel inorganic–organic hybrid zinc phosphites, namely, [Zn(1,2-bimb)_0.5(HPO₃)]_n (1) and [Zn(1,4-bmimb)_0.5(HPO₃)]_n (2), (1,2-bimb = 1,2-bis(imidazol-1ylmethyl)benzene; 1,4-bmimb = 1,4-bis((2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1yl)methyl)benzene) were synthesized for the first time by hydrothermal reaction. Compound 1 generates a three-dimensional (3D) pillared-layer structure with a 2-nodal 3,4-connected 3,4T15 topology. While compound 2 exhibits a 2D hybrid zinc phosphite sheet with a 3,4-connected 3,4L83 topology network. Utilizing compound 1 and compound 2 as templates and Na₂S as an etching agent, a series of highly efficient ZnO/ZnS photocatalysts were obtained. The optimized 1-160 sample demonstrates the highest evolution rate of 22.6 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹, exceeding the rate of commercial ZnS samples by more than 14.5 times. The remarkable photocatalytic activity should be attributed to the unique heterojunction structure which shortens the free path of charge carriers and enhances the charge separation efficiency. This work provides a facile strategy for preparing photocatalysts with efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production derived from inorganic–organic hybrid material.

Though a solvo-thermal synthesis process, two novel inorganic–organic hybrid zinc phosphite were constructed. Using these hybrid zinc phosphite as template, the ZnO/ZnS heterostructures were prepared by a sulfuration method for enhanced photocatalytic performance.

Effect of heat treatment under vacuum on structure and visible-light photocatalytic activity of nano-TiO2

Nano-TiO2 is known as a photocatalyst with high catalytic activity. However, it should be emphasized that the bandgap of nano-TiO2 is wide, which limits its photocatalytic efficiency in response to visible light and thus hinders its potential application. Improving the photocatalytic activity of nano-TiO2 under visible light by the strategy of heat treatment under vacuum was investigated in this study. The structure and photocatalytic activity of nano-TiO2 before and after heat treatment under vacuum were compared and analyzed by XRD, TEM, HRTEM, XPS and UV-Vis-NIR, respectively. The results show that oxygen vacancies were introduced into the crystal structure of nano-TiO2 to change its inherent energy band structure. Particularly, the samples after heat treatment under vacuum exhibited high photocatalytic activity under visible light. In addition, the formation mechanism of non-stoichiometric compound TiO2-x and the mechanism of oxygen vacancy defects to expand the wavelength of light that nano-TiO2 absorbs to the visible portion of the spectrum have also been addressed in this paper.

TiO2–Au composite nanofibers for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

TiO₂-based materials for photocatalytic hydrogen (H₂) evolution have attracted much interest as a renewable approach for clean energy applications. TiO₂–Au composite nanofibers (NFs) with an average fiber diameter of ∼160 nm have been fabricated by electrospinning combined with calcination treatment. In situ reduced gold nanoparticles (NPs) with uniform size (∼10 nm) are found to disperse homogenously in the TiO₂ NF matrix. The TiO₂–Au composite NFs catalyst can significantly enhance the photocatalytic H₂ generation with an extremely high rate of 12 440 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹, corresponding to an adequate apparent quantum yield of 5.11% at 400 nm, which is 25 times and 10 times those of P25 (584 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹) and pure TiO₂ NFs (1254 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹), respectively. Furthermore, detailed studies indicate that the H₂ evolution efficiency of the TiO₂–Au composite NF catalyst is highly dependent on the gold content. This work provides a strategy to develop highly efficient catalysts for H₂ evolution.

The H₂ production rate of TiO₂–Au nanofibers is dramatically improved to 12 440 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹, 10 times that of pure TiO₂.

Synthesis of a high-surface area V2O5/TiO2–SiO2 catalyst and its application in the visible light photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

In the present study, we synthesized several high-surface area V₂O₅/TiO₂–SiO₂ catalysts (vanado titanium silicate, VTS). The synthesized materials are characterized by PXRD, FE-SEM/EDAX, TEM, BET-surface area, FT-IR, UV-Vis, XPS, fluorescence and photocatalytic studies.

Photoelectrochemical study of carbon-modified p-type Cu2O nanoneedles and n-type TiO2−x nanorods for Z-scheme solar water splitting in a tandem cell configuration

Nanostructured photoelectrodes with high surface-area and tunable optical-electrical properties can potentially benefit a Z-scheme photoelectrochemical water splitting systems to generate solar fuels at no external bias.