Photocorrosion Inhibition of Semiconductor-Based Photocatalysts: Basic Principle, Current Development, and Future Perspective

Advanced photocatalysis as a viable and sustainable wastewater treatment process: A comprehensive review

In our era, water pollution not only poses a serious threat to human, animal, and biotic life but also causes serious damage to infrastructure and the ecosystem. A set of physical, chemical, and biological technologies have been exploited to decontaminate and/or disinfect water pollutants, toxins, microbes, and contaminants, but none of these could be ranked as sustainable and scalable wastewater technology. The photocatalytic process can harmonize the sunlight to degrade certain toxins, chemicals, microbes, and antibiotics, present in water. For example, transition metal oxides (ZnO, SnO2, TiO2, etc.), when integrated into an organic framework of graphene or nitrides, can bring about more than 90% removal of dyes, microbial load, pesticides, and antibiotics. Similarly, a modified network of graphitic carbon nitride can completely decontaminate petrochemicals. The present review will primarily highlight the mechanistic aspects for the removal and/or degradation of highly concerned contaminants, factors affecting photocatalysis, engineering designs of photoreactors, and pros and cons of various wastewater treatment technologies already in practice. The photocatalytic reactor can be a more viable and sustainable wastewater treatment opportunity. We hope the researcher will find a handful of information regarding the advanced oxidation process accomplished via photocatalysis and the benefits associated with the photocatalytic-type degradation of water pollutants and contaminants.

Emergence of Z-Scheme Photocatalysis for Total Water Splitting: An Improvised Route to High Efficiency

Photocatalytic water splitting to spontaneously produce H2 and O2 is a long-standing goal in solar energy conversion, presenting a significant challenge without using sacrificial electron donors or external biases. Inspired by natural photosynthesis, the design of artificial Z-scheme photocatalytic systems is at the forefront of this field. These systems achieve higher redox potential by separating photogenerated electrons and holes through a fast interlayer recombination process between valence and conduction band edges. Z-scheme photocatalysis involves using two different semiconductors with distinct bandgap energies. Here, we explore potential systems based on two-dimensional (2D) heterostructures composed of carbon, nitrogen, or similar main group elements. The advantages and disadvantages of these systems are discussed, with a focus on enhancing their efficiency through strategic design. Special emphasis is placed on the dynamics of excited charge carrier transfer and recombination processes, which are crucial for developing efficient photocatalytic systems for overall water splitting.

Stability and degradation of (oxy)nitride photocatalysts for solar water splitting

Advancing towards alternative technologies for the sustainable production of hydrogen is a necessity for the successful integration of this potentially green fuel in the future. Photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical water splitting are promising concepts in this context. Over the past decades, researchers have successfully explored several materials classes, such as oxides, nitrides, and oxynitrides, in their quest for suitable photocatalysts with a focus on reaching higher efficiencies. However, to pave the way towards practicability, understanding degradation processes and reaching stability is essential, a domain where research has been scarcer. This perspective aims at providing an overview on recent progress concerning stability and degradation with a focus on (oxy)nitride photocatalysts and at providing insights into the opportunities and challenges coming along with the investigation of degradation processes and the attempts to improve the stability of photocatalysts.

Photocatalytic Dye Degradation from Textile Wastewater: A Review

The elimination of dyes discharged from industrial wastewater into water bodies is crucial due to its detrimental effects on aquatic organisms and potential carcinogenic impact on human health. Various methods are employed for dye removal, but they often fall short in completely degrading the dyes and generating large amounts of suspended solids. Hence, there is a critical need for an efficient process that can achieve complete dye degradation with minimal waste emission. Among traditional water treatment approaches, photocatalysis stands out as a promising method for degrading diverse toxic and organic pollutants present in wastewater. In this review, the heterogeneous photocatalysis process is well explained for dye removal. This comprehensive review not only provides insightful illumination on the classification of dyes but also thoroughly explains various dye removal methods and the underlying mechanisms of photocatalysis. Furthermore, factors which effect the activity of the photocatalysis process are also explained in detail. Likewise, we categorized the heterogeneous photocatalyst in three generations and observed their activity for dye removal. This review also addresses the challenges and effectiveness of this promising field. Its primary aim is to offer a comprehensive overview of the photocatalytic degradation of pollution and to explore its potential for further future applications.

Inhibition photooxidation of pyrite under illumination via altering photogenerated carrier migration pathways: Role of DTC-TETA surface passivation

The oxidation of pyrite is the main cause of acidic mine drainage (AMD), which is a very serious environmental problem in numerous mining areas around the world. Previous studies have shown that passivation agents create a hydrophobic film on the surface of pyrite, effectively isolating oxygen and water. However, the presence of abundant sulfide minerals in tailings ponds may exacerbate AMD when exposed to solar radiation, due to the semiconductor properties of pyrite. It remains uncertain whether the current surface passivation coating can effectively prevent the oxidation of pyrite under light conditions. This paper is the first to investigate the passivation effect as well as the mechanism of surface passivation coating on pyrite under illumination from the perspective of materials science. The results demonstrated that the triethylenetetramine-bisdithiocarbamate (DTC-TETA) passivation coating on pyrite almost completely suppressed the photooxidation of pyrite under illumination by changing the migration path of photogenerated charge carriers. The formation of NC(S)2-Fe chelating groups provides atomic-level interface channels for DTC-TETA to transfer electrons to pyrite and creates a favorable reduction environment for pyrite. Besides, DTC-TETA coating greatly improves the electron-hole pairs recombination efficiency of pyrite, which significantly inhibits the photogenerated electron reduction of oxygen to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, DTC-TETA coating captures the photogenerated holes, avoiding direct oxidation of pyrite by holes. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the DTC-TETA coating increases the adsorption energy barrier for oxygen and water. The results extend the existing knowledge on passivation mechanisms on pyrite and hold significant implications for the future screening, evaluation, and practical application of surface passivating agents.

Facile Semiconductor p-n Homojunction Nanowires with Strategic p-Type Doping Engineering Combined with Surface Reconstruction for Biosensing Applications

Photosensors with versatile functionalities have emerged as a cornerstone for breakthroughs in the future optoelectronic systems across a wide range of applications. In particular, emerging photoelectrochemical (PEC)-type devices have recently attracted extensive interest in liquid-based biosensing applications due to their natural electrolyte-assisted operating characteristics. Herein, a PEC-type photosensor was carefully designed and constructed by employing gallium nitride (GaN) p-n homojunction semiconductor nanowires on silicon, with the p-GaN segment strategically doped and then decorated with cobalt-nickel oxide (CoNiOx). Essentially, the p-n homojunction configuration with facile p-doping engineering improves carrier separation efficiency and facilitates carrier transfer to the nanowire surface, while CoNiOx decoration further boosts PEC reaction activity and carrier dynamics at the nanowire/electrolyte interface. Consequently, the constructed photosensor achieves a high responsivity of 247.8 mA W-1 while simultaneously exhibiting excellent operating stability. Strikingly, based on the remarkable stability and high responsivity of the device, a glucose sensing system was established with a demonstration of glucose level determination in real human serum. This work offers a feasible and universal approach in the pursuit of high-performance bio-related sensing applications via a rational design of PEC devices in the form of nanostructured architecture with strategic doping engineering.

Metal Sulfide S-Scheme Homojunction for Photocatalytic Selective Phenylcarbinol Oxidation

Metal sulfide-based homojunction photocatalysts are extensively explored with improved photocatalytic performance. However, the construction of metal sulfide-based S-scheme homojunction remains a challenge. Herein, the fabrication of 2D CdIn2S4 nanosheets coated 3D CdIn2S4 octahedra (referred to as 2D/3D n-CIS/o-CIS) S-scheme homojunction photocatalyst is reported by simply adjustment of polyvinyl pyrrolidone amount during the solvothermal synthesis. The formation of S-scheme homojunction within n-CIS/o-CIS is systematically investigated via a series of characterizations, which can generate an internal electric field to facilitate the separation and migration of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. The 2D/3D n-CIS/o-CIS composite exhibits significantly improved photocatalytic activity and stability in the selective oxidation of phenylcarbinol (PhCH2OH) to benzaldehyde (PhCHO) when compared to pure n-CIS and o-CIS samples under visible light irradiation. It is hoped that this work can contribute novel insights into the development of metal sulfides S-scheme homojunction photocatalysts for solar energy conversion.

Interfacial Charge Transfer Regulates Photoredox Catalysis

Photoredox catalytic processes offer the potential for precise chemical reactions using light and materials. The central determinant is identified as interfacial charge transfer, which simultaneously engenders distinctive behavior in the overall reaction. An in-depth elucidation of the main mechanism and highlighting of the complexity of interfacial charge transfer can occur through both diffusive and direct transfer models, revealing its potential for sophisticated design in complex transformations. The fundamental photophysics uncover these comprehensive applications and offer a clue for future development. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on interfacial charge transfer in photoredox catalysis and sets the stage for further exploration of this fascinating area of research.

Multisite Cocatalysis: Single atomic Pt2+/Pt0 active sites synergistically improve the simulated sunlight driven H2O-to-H2 conversion performance of Sb2S3 nanorods

Single atomic metal (SAM) cocatalysis is a potential strategy to improve the performance of photocatalytic materials. However, the cocatalytic mechanism of SAM sites in different valence states is rarely reported. Herein, single atomic Pt2+/Pt0 active sites were anchored on Sb2S3 nanorods to synergistically improve the photoactivity for hydrogen production under simulated sunlight. Experimental results and density functional theory calculations indicated that the coexistence of single atomic Pt2+/Pt0 sites synergistically improves the broadband light harvesting and promotes the Sb2S3-to-Pt electron transfer following inhibited photoexciton recombination kinetics and enhanced H proton adsorption capacity, resulting higher and more durable photoactivity for hydrogen production. Therefore, the optimal Sb2S3-Pt0.9‰ composite catalyst achieved remarkably enhanced hydrogen evolution rate of 1.37 mmol∙g-1∙h-1 (about 105-fold greater of that of Sb2S3 NRs) under faintly alkaline condition, and about 5.41 % of apparent quantum yield (AQY700 nm) was achieved, which shows obvious superiority in hydrogen production by contrasting with the reported Sb2S3-based photocatalysts and conventional semiconductor photocatalytic materials modified with noble metals. This study elucidate a well-defined mechanism of multisite cocatalysis for photoactivity improvement.

Advancing sustainable water treatment strategies: harnessing magnetite-based photocatalysts and techno-economic analysis for enhanced wastewater management in the context of SDGs

Herein, we explore the holistic integration of magnetite-based photocatalysts and techno-economic analysis (TEA) as a sustainable approach in wastewater treatment aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While considerable attention has been devoted to photocatalytic dye degradation, the nexus between these processes and techno-economic considerations remains relatively unexplored. The review comprehensively examines the fundamental characteristics of magnetite-based photocatalysts, encompassing synthesis methods, composition, and unique properties. It investigates their efficacy in photocatalytic degradation, addressing homogeneous and heterogeneous aspects while discussing strategies to optimize photodegradation efficiency, including curbing electron-hole recombination and mitigating scavenging effects and interference by ions and humic acid. Moreover, the management aspects of magnetite-based photocatalysts are examined, focusing on their reusability and regeneration post-dye removal, along with the potential for reusing treated wastewater in relevant industrial applications. From a techno-economic perspective, the study evaluates the financial feasibility of deploying magnetite-based photocatalysts in wastewater treatment, correlating reduced pollution and the marketing of treated water with social, economic, and environmental objectives. By advocating the integration of magnetite-based photocatalysts and TEA, this paper contributes insights into scalable and profitable sustainable wastewater treatment practices. It underscores the alignment of these practices with SDGs, emphasizing a comprehensive and holistic approach to managing wastewater in ways that meet environmental, economic, and societal objectives.

Discerning the catalytic treatment of cationic dye wastewater in photoreactor comprising ternary (Co3+/Co2+)-embedded SnO2/ZnFe2O4 composite sensitive toward ultra-violet illumination

Herein, magnetic (Co3+/Co2+)-integrated SnO2, SnO2/ZnFe2O4, and ZnFe2O4 composites have been prepared from triply distilled water and 30% of isopropanol in the water medium. The phase evolution, microstructure, and magnetism were investigated successfully and tested for cationic dye wastewater degradation containing Rhodamine 6G and Methylene Blue under ultra-violet irradiation. Composite spheres are attributed to efficient heterojunction interfaces between ZnFe2O4 and SnO2 semiconductors with the support of (Co3+/Co2+) nanoparticles. The results provide a simple, low-cost, environmentally friendly, and scalable method of ternary composites to degrade mixed dyes. Co3+/Co2+-implanted SnO2/ZnFe2O4 offered narrowed bandgap energy, more light absorption, diminishing electron-hole recombination, and more charge carriers toward cationic dye wastewater than the binary components. The rate constant of Rhodamine 6G degradation was observed at 0.0237 min-1, and Methylene Blue degradation was observed at 0.0187 min-1 at 90 min under UV (λ = 365 nm) irradiation. Capturing studies of various organic reactive species and mechanisms of composites was also proposed in detail.

Solar-Driven Ammonia Production through Engineering of the Electronic Structure of a Zr-Based MOF

As a hydrogen carrier and a vital component in fertilizer production, ammonia (NH3) is set to play a crucial role in the planet's future. While its industrial production feeds half of the global population, it uses fossil fuels and emits greenhouse gases. To tackle this issue, photocatalytic nitrogen fixation using visible light is emerging as an effective alternative method. This strategy avoids carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and harnesses the largest share of sunlight. In this work, we successfully incorporated a 5-nitro isophthalic acid linker into MOF-808 to introduce structural defects and open metal sites. This has allowed modulation of the electronic structure of the MOF and effectively reduced the band gap energy from 3.8 to 2.6 eV. Combination with g-C3N4 enhanced further NH3 production, as these two materials possess similar band gap energies, and g-C3N4 has shown excellent performance for this reaction. The nitro groups serve as acceptors, and their integration into the MOF structure allowed effective interaction with the free electron pairs on N-(C)3 in the g-C3N4 network nodes. Based on DFT calculations, it was concluded that the adsorption of N2 molecules on open metal sites caused a decrease in their triple bond energy. The modified MOF-808 showed superior performance compared with the other MOFs studied in terms of N2 photoreduction under visible light. This design concept offers valuable information about how to engineer band gap energy in MOF structures and their combination with appropriate semiconductors for solar-powered photocatalytic reactions, such as N2 or CO2 photoreduction.

Development of stable S-scheme 2D-2D g-C3N4/CdS nanoheterojunction arrays for enhanced visible light photomineralisation of nitrophenol priority water pollutants

The investigation focused on creating and studying a new 2D-2D S-scheme CdS/g-C3N4 heterojunction photocatalyst. Various techniques examined its structure, composition, and optical properties. This included XRD, XPS, EDS, SEM, TEM, HRTEM, DRS, and PL. The heterojunction showed a reduced charge recombination rate and more excellent stability, helping to lessen photocorrosion. This was due to photogenerated holes moving more quickly out of the CdS valence band. The interface between g-C3N4 and CdS favored a synergistic charge transfer. A suitable flat band potential measurement supported enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in degrading 4-nitrophenol and 2-nitrophenol. This resulted in remarkable degradation efficiency of up to 99% and mineralization of up to 79%. The findings highlighted the practical design of the new 2D-2D S-scheme CdS/g-C3N4 heterojunction photocatalyst and its potential application in various energy and environmental settings, such as pollutant removal, hydrogen production, and CO2 conversion.

Polystyrene microplastics enhance oxidative dissolution but suppress the aquatic acute toxicity of a commercial cadmium yellow pigment under simulated irradiation

Commercial cadmium yellow (CdS) pigment widely coexist with microplastics (MPs) in surface water, thus it is important to understand how MPs affect CdS pigment stability and toxicity under irradiation. Herein, the dissolution of CdS pigment (krelease = 0.118 h-1) under irradiation was visibly increased to 0.144 h-1 by polystyrene (PS) MPs, due to reactive species generation such as 1O2, •OH and 3PS* , while O2•- was unimportant to this process. The O2, humic acid, photoaging status of PS MPs could promote PS MPs-related CdS pigment dissolution rate by modifying reactive species generation. However, the CO32-, PO43- and alkaline condition significantly decreased the dissolution rate to 0.091, 0.053 and 0.094 h-1, respectively, through modifying free Cd2+ stability. Comparably, PS MPs-related CdS pigment dissolution was relatively slow in natural water samples (krelease = 0.075 h-1). PS MPs at environmental concentration can also promote CdS pigment dissolution and Cd2+ release, but suppress acute toxicity of CdS pigment to zebrafish larvae as increasing 10 h survival from 65% to 85% by adsorbing the Cd2+ and decreasing Cd2+ bioavailability. This study emphasized the environmental risks and human safety of CdS pigment should be carefully evaluated in the presence of PS MPs in aquatic environments.

High-throughput experimentation for photocatalytic water purification in practical environments

High-throughput screening instrument was developed for photocatalytic water purification, enabling the simultaneous testing of 132 photocatalytic reactions under uniform visible light irradiation, temperature control, and stirring. The instrument was used to investigate the effects of different catalysts (TiO2, ZnO, α-Fe2O3) and environmental waters (seawater, urban wastewater, and industrial wastewater) on dye degradation. It was observed environmental ions, particularly carbonate and phosphate ions, significantly reduced catalyst activity by inhibiting the adsorption of dye molecules. To develop effective catalysts for dye degradation in industrial wastewater, 15 types of noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) were supported on photocatalysts. The study found that noble metal NPs with high work functions and oxidation resistance, such as Au and Pt, exhibited higher activity even in the industrial wastewater, likely converting environmental ions into active species. These findings, based on 432 test results, demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed high-throughput screening instrument for optimizing photocatalytic water purification.

Construction of Bi/BiOI/BiOCl Z-scheme photocatalyst with enhanced tetracycline removal under visible light

Bi/BiOI/BiOCl composite photocatalyst was constructed by one-step stirring approach at ambient environment to remove of tetracycline (TC) antibiotics via photodegradation in aqueous medium. A systematic discussion of the architecture, composition, formation, photochemical performance and photocatalytic activity of Bi/BiOI/BiOCl was carried out. By adjusting the experimental conditions, it was found that the Bi/BiOI/BiOCl photocatalyst obtained by using 0.7 mmol NaBH4, I/Cl = 5% and reacting for 6 h had the greatest removal performance. Under visible light irradiation, the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of TC reached 90.3% within 60 min, surpassing that of single BiOCl and BiOI. Through the active species removal experiment, it was determined that •O2- made a primary contribution to the photocatalytic degradation process. Moreover, the formation of Z-scheme heterojunction in Bi/BiOI/BiOCl was discussed, analyzing the photocatalytic mechanism and TC degradation pathway. The ecological toxicity of TC solution before and after degradation to rice seedlings was preliminarily tested. This study provides an idea for one-step synthesis of bismuth-based composite photocatalysts, with potential applications in the photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics.

A floating photocatalytic fabric integrated with a AgI/UiO-66-NH2 heterojunction as a facile strategy for wastewater treatment

With an increased need of wastewater treatment, application of photocatalysts has drawn growing research attention as an advanced water remediation strategy. Herein, a floating photocatalytic fabric in a woven construction was developed for removal of Rhodamine B (RhB) in water. For an efficient photocatalytic reaction, AgI nanoparticles were grown on the surface of UiO-66-NH2 crystals in a layered structure, forming a heterojunction system on a cotton yarn, and this was woven with polypropylene yarn. The floating photocatalyst demonstrated the maximized light utilization and adequate contact with contaminated water. Through the heterojunction system, the electrons and holes were effectively separated to generate reactive chemical species, and this eventually led to an enhanced photocatalytic performance of AgI/UiO@fabric reaching 98% removal efficiency after 2 hours of irradiation. Photodegradation of RhB occurred mainly by superoxide radicals and holes, which were responsible for de-ethylation and decomposition of an aromatic ring, respectively. The kinetics of the photocatalytic reaction suggested that circulation of solution by stirring affected the photocatalytic removal rate. The recycle test demonstrated the potential long-term applicability of the developed material with structural integrity and catalytic stability. This study highlights the proof-of-concept of a floating photocatalytic material for facile and effective water remediation with repeated usability.

Size Effect of Cu Nanoparticles in Cu/g-C3N4 Composites on Properties for Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2 to Methanol

The main goal of this work is to develop cheap photocatalysts for the efficient photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to methanol with water. A series of composites of Cu/g-C3N4 were prepared via a solvothermal method. Copper nanoparticle (Cu NP) size in Cu/g-C3N4 can be easily controlled by adjusting the synthesis temperature. The Cu/g-C3N4 material with the proper size of Cu NP (CuCN-100) had the best photocatalytic property (675 μmol·g-1·h-1) in reducing the amount of CO2 to methanol at room temperature under normal pressure. The particle size of Cu NPs is the key factor to improve the catalytic activity and stability because of the improved transfer and separation of photogenerated charges with the small Cu NPs. Although the sample with large Cu NPs (CuCN-200) initially gave a better activity than that of CuCN-100 due to the formation of double heterojunction, its activity was thoroughly lost after two runs resulting from the continuous photocorrosion. This work provides a valuable insight for preparing efficient semiconductor-metal photocatalysts.

Reticular framework materials for photocatalytic organic reactions

Photocatalytic organic reactions, harvesting solar energy to produce high value-added organic chemicals, have attracted increasing attention as a sustainable approach to address the global energy crisis and environmental issues. Reticular framework materials, including metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs), are widely considered as promising candidates for photocatalysis owing to their high crystallinity, tailorable pore environment and extensive structural diversity. Although the design and synthesis of MOFs and COFs have been intensively developed in the last 20 years, their applications in photocatalytic organic transformations are still in the preliminary stage, making their systematic summary necessary. Thus, this review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding and useful guidelines for the exploration of suitable MOF and COF photocatalysts towards appropriate photocatalytic organic reactions. The commonly used reactions are categorized to facilitate the identification of suitable reaction types. From a practical viewpoint, the fundamentals of experimental design, including active species, performance evaluation and external reaction conditions, are discussed in detail for easy experimentation. Furthermore, the latest advances in photocatalytic organic reactions of MOFs and COFs, including their composites, are comprehensively summarized according to the actual active sites, together with the discussion of their structure-property relationship. We believe that this study will be helpful for researchers to design novel reticular framework photocatalysts for various organic synthetic applications.

Solar Photocatalytic Activity of Ba-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles: The Role of Surface Hydrophilicity

Bare zinc oxide (ZnO) and Ba-doped ZnO (BZO) samples were prepared by using a simple precipitation method. The effects of Barium doping on the structural, morphological, and optoelectronic properties, as well as on the physico-chemical features of the surface were investigated and correlated with the observed photocatalytic activity under natural solar irradiation. The incorporation of Ba2+ ions into the ZnO structure increased the surface area by ca. 14 times and enhanced the hydrophilicity with respect to the bare sample, as demonstrated by infrared spectroscopy and contact angle measurements. The surface hydrophilicity was correlated with the enhanced defectivity of the doped sample, as indicated by X-ray diffraction, Raman, and fluorescence spectroscopies. The resulting higher affinity with water was, for the first time, invoked as an important factor justifying the superior photocatalytic performance of BZO compared to the undoped one, in addition to the slightly higher separation of the photoproduced pairs, an effect that has already been reported in literature. In particular, observed kinetic constants values of 8∙10-3 and 11.3∙10-3 min-1 were determined for the ZnO and BZO samples, respectively, by assuming first order kinetics. Importantly, Ba doping suppressed photocorrosion and increased the stability of the BZO sample under irradiation, making it a promising photocatalyst for the abatement of toxic species.

Metal to non-metal sites of metallic sulfides switching products from CO to CH4 for photocatalytic CO2 reduction

The active center for the adsorption and activation of carbon dioxide plays a vital role in the conversion and product selectivity of photocatalytic CO2 reduction. Here, we find multiple metal sulfides CuInSnS4 octahedral nanocrystal with exposed (1 1 1) plane for the selectively photocatalytic CO2 reduction to methane. Still, the product is switched to carbon monoxide on the corresponding individual metal sulfides In2S3, SnS2, and Cu2S. Unlike the common metal or defects as active sites, the non-metal sulfur atom in CuInSnS4 is revealed to be the adsorption center for responding to the selectivity of CH4 products. The carbon atom of CO2 adsorbed on the electron-poor sulfur atom of CuInSnS4 is favorable for stabilizing the intermediates and thus promotes the conversion of CO2 to CH4. Both the activity and selectivity of CH4 products over the pristine CuInSnS4 nanocrystal can be further improved by the modification of with various co-catalysts to enhance the separation of the photogenerated charge carrier. This work provides a non-metal active site to determine the conversion and selectivity of photocatalytic CO2 reduction.

Tuning Electronic State and Charge Transport in B←N-Containing 2D Polymer Heterostructures with Efficient Photocatalytic Performance

Linear-conjugated polymers (LCPs) are excellent semiconductor photocatalysts. However, its inherent amorphous structures and simple electron transport channels restrict efficient photoexcited charge separation and transfer. Herein, "2D conjugated engineering" is employed to design high-crystalline polymer photocatalysts with multichannel charge transport by introducing alkoxyphenyl sidechains. The electronic state structure and electron transport pathways of the LCPs are investigated using experimental and theoretical calculations. Consequently, the 2D B←N-containing polymers (2DPBN) exhibit excellent photoelectric characteristics, which enable the efficient separation of electron-hole and rapidly transfer photogenerated carriers to the catalyst surface for efficient catalytic reactions. Significantly, the further hydrogen evolution of 2DPBN-4F heterostructures can be achieved by increasing the fluorine content of the backbones. This study highlights that the rational design of LCP photocatalysts is an effective strategy to spur further interest in photofunctional polymer material applications.

Significantly enhanced the light absorption and charge separation of Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 by coupling with CdS for high-performance piezo-photocatalysis

Sodium bismuth titanate (Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3, BNT) is a typical lead-free piezoelectric material with perovskite structure, which exhibits great potential as piezo-photocatalyst but limited by the little response on visible light and insufficient carriers for efficient catalytic reactions. Herein, a novel BNT/CdS heterojunction was facilely synthesized by the two-step hydrothermal process for significantly enhanced piezo-photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes. The CdS nanoparticles with 35 nm in diameter are uniformly decorated on the highly crystallized BNT spheres. The obtained BNT/CdS heterojunction displays strong absorption of visible light because of the narrow band gap of CdS. Due to the strong built-in electric field under ultrasonic and efficient excitation by visible light, the photogenerated carriers can be efficiently separated at the BNT/CdS interface and migrate to the surface for catalytic reactions. As a result, the BNT/CdS shows much higher piezo-photocatalytic activity than that of BNT and can degrade 99% RhB within 60 min. Meanwhile, the piezo-photocatalytic performance of BNT/CdS is far better than that of individual photocatalysis or piezocatalysis. Moreover, the catalytic experiments in the presence of different scavengers indicate that ·O2- is the predominant active specie. The synthetic process is simple, low-cost, and controllable to produce high-performance BNT/CdS and is believed to show promising application prospect.

Direct synthesis of hydrogen fluoride-free multilayered Ti3C2/TiO2 composite and its applications in photocatalysis

Ti3C2/TiO2 hybrids are environment-friendly and exhibit excellent photocatalytic and hydrogen-generating power characteristics. Herein, a novel single-step method is proposed for fabricating multilayer structures in which TiO2, generated from (NH4)2TiF6, wraps the Ti3C2 MXene by etching Ti3AlC2 with (NH4)2TiF6. The optimal reaction conditions for the etching of Ti3AlC2 with (NH4)2TiF6 were systematically studied. The phase composition, morphology, and photophysical properties of the Ti3C2/TiO2 hybrids were investigated using X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and UV-vis spectrophotometry. The thermal stability of the hybrids was investigated using thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses. Along with the formation of Ti3C2 MXene, Ti3AlC2 reacted with (NH4)2TiF6 at 60 °C for 24 h to form hybrids surrounded by NH4TiOF3 crystals. Subsequent reactions of these hybrids with H3BO3 resulted in the conversion of NH4TiOF3 crystals into TiO2 and eventually into Ti3C2/TiO2 hybrids. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity of the Ti3C2/TiO2 hybrids was measured by monitoring the photodegradation of methylene blue under ultraviolet light, which showed that the photocatalytic activity of the Ti3C2/TiO2 hybrids was higher than that of the commercial anatase TiO2 nanoparticles.

Metal sulphides and their heterojunctions for photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes-A comprehensive review

Water pollution caused by organic dyes is one of the greatest threats to the ecosystem. The removal of dyes from water has remained a challenge for scientists. Recently, metal sulphides have emerged as a potential candidate for water remediation applications. The efficient charge transportation, greater surface-active sites, and low bandgap of metal sulphides make them an excellent choice of semiconductor photocatalysts for degradation of dyes. This review summarises the potential application of metal sulphides and their heterojunctions for the photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes from wastewater. A detailed study has been presented on the synthesis, basics of photodegradation and heterojunctions and photocatalytic activity. The effect of the use of templates, doping agents, synthesis route, and various other factors affecting the photocatalytic activity of metal sulphides have been summarised in this review. The synthesis techniques, characterisation techniques, mechanism of degradation of organic dyes by Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst, reusability and stability of metal sulphides, and the scope of future research are also discussed. This study indicates that Scopus-based core gathered data could be used to give an objective overview of the global dye degradation research from 2008 to 2023 (15 years). All data (articles, authors, keywords, and publications) is compiled in the Scopus database. For the bibliometric study, 1962 papers relevant to dye photodegradation by sulfide-based photocatalysts were found, and this number rises yearly. A bibliometric analysis provides a 15-year evaluation of the state-of-the-art research on the impact of metal sulfide-based photocatalysts on the photodegradation of dyes.

Critical parameters influencing the continuous performance of upflow microbubble airlift photocatalytic process treating pharmaceutical pollutants

The advances in heterogeneous photocatalysts are still confined to evaluating the functional photocatalytic activity of catalysts in simple batch-mode operation. Nevertheless, the long-term stability, recovery-reusability, and cost-effectiveness of photocatalysts are critical issues in practical applications for pollution control. This study examined the critical parameters to improve the photocatalytic degradation activity of the antibiotic tetracycline and strategized successful continuous performance in a two-stage photocatalytic process adopting sequencing batch-mode microbubble upflow airlift reactor (UALR) followed by the centrifugal separation of CdS nanoparticles (NPs). The most effective strategy for NPs separation was a sequential combination of gravity separation (10 min settling) in the settling phase and subsequent high-speed centrifugation (5 min at 25,000×g) of the settled NPs sediments, providing an economic benefit by reducing the centrifugation capacity. During steady state operation under the optimal conditions, the UALR showed reliable performance, resulting in 97-91% and 85-81% degradation efficiency at 60- and 30-min reaction time per cycle, respectively. A weak basic condition (pH 8) and dissolved oxygen (DO) supplementation increased the photocatalytic activity by 12% (0.0292 min^-1) and 30% (0.0363 min^-1) compared to the control. Trapping studies confirmed the enhanced performance using various reactive oxygen species scavengers, revealing an increase in ^•OH generation (6.5%).

Hydrogen Production from Formic Acid by In Situ Generated Ni/CdS Photocatalytic System under Visible Light Irradiation

Simple and practical noble-metal-free catalyzed hydrogen production from sustainable resources, such as renewable formic acid, is highly desirable. Herein, the development of an efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production from aqueous solution of formic acid using in situ generated Ni/CdS photocatalytic system was described. CdS-Cys (Cys=l-cysteine) quantum dots (QDs) acting as photocatalyst with Ni(OAc)₂ as H₂ production catalyst precursor, a 94 % yield was obtained within 5 h under visible light irradiation at 50 °C. The average rate of H₂ production reached up to 282 μmol mg^-1  h^-1 with 99.8 % H₂ selectivity. Mechanistic studies indicate cooperation of dynamic quenching and static quenching of CdS-Cys QDs by Ni(OAc)₂ . Especially, Ni⁰ , generated in the dynamic quenching, accelerated the electron transfer by acting as an electron outlet and enhancing the stability of CdS to slow down the photocorrosion distinctly, delivering efficient H₂ production with high selectivity. Our study will inspire exploration of various efficient non-noble-metal catalysts for practical H₂ production from bio-based formic acid.

Z-Scheme Modulated Charge Transfer on InVO4 @ZnIn2 S4 for Durable Overall Water Splitting

The charge transfer within heterojunction is crucial for the efficiency and stability of photocatalyst for overall water splitting (OWS). Herein, InVO₄ nanosheets have been employed as a support for the lateral epitaxial growth of ZnIn₂ S₄ nanosheets to produce hierarchical InVO₄ @ZnIn₂ S₄ (InVZ) heterojunctions. The distinct branching heterostructure facilitates active site exposure and mass transfer, further boosting the participation of ZnIn₂ S₄ and InVO₄ for proton reduction and water oxidation, respectively. The unique Z-scheme modulated charge transfer, visualized by simulation and in situ analysis, has been proved to promote the spatial separation of photoexcited charges and strengthen the anti-photocorrosion capability of InVZ. The optimized InVZ heterojunction presents improved OWS (153.3 µmol h^-1  g^-1 for H₂ and 76.9 µmol h^-1  g^-1 for O₂ ) and competitive H₂ production (21090 µmol h^-1  g^-1 ). Even after 20 times (100 h) of cycle experiment, it still holds more than 88% OWS activity and a complete structure.

Recent advances in the removal of emerging contaminants from water by novel molecularly imprinted materials in advanced oxidation processes-A review

Recently, there has been a global focus on effectively treating emerging contaminants (ECs) in water bodies. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are the primary technology used for ECs removal. However, the low concentrations of ECs make it difficult to overcome the interference of background substances in complex water quality, which limits the practical application of AOPs. To address this limitation, many researchers are developing new catalysts with preferential adsorption. Molecular imprinting technology (MIT) combined with conventional catalysts has been found to effectively enhance the selectivity of catalysts for the targeted catalytic degradation of pollutants. This review presents a comprehensive summary of the progress made in research on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) in the selective oxidation of ECs in water. The preparation methods, principles, and control points of novel MIP catalysts are discussed. Furthermore, the performance and mechanism of the catalysts in photocatalytic oxidation, electrocatalytic oxidation, and persulfate activation are analyzed with examples. The possible ecotoxicological risks of MIP catalysts are also discussed. Finally, the challenges and prospects of applying MIP catalysts in AOP are presented along with proposed solutions. This review provides a better understanding of using MIP catalysts in AOPs to target the degradation of ECs.

Multicomponent hydroxides supported Cu/Cu2O nanoparticles for high efficient photocatalytic ammonia synthesis

Environmentally friendly photocatalytic N₂ fixation process has attracted considerable attention. Developing efficient photocatalysts with high electron-hole separation rates and gas adsorption capacities remains quite challenging. Herein, a facile fabrication strategy of Cu-Cu₂O and multicomponent hydroxide S-scheme heterojunctions with carbon dot charge mediators is reported. The rational heterostructurebrings excellent N₂ absorption ability and high photoinduced electron/hole separation efficiency, and the ammonia produced yield reach above 210 µmol·g_cal^-1·h^-1 during the nitrogen photofixation process. More superoxide and hydroxyl radicals are generated simultaneously in the as-prepared samples under light illumination. This work offers a reasonable construction method to further develop suitable photocatalysts for ammonia synthesis.

Surface Stoichiometry Control of Colloidal Heterostructured Quantum Dots for High-Performance Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Generation

Manipulating the separation and transfer behaviors of charges has long been pursued for promoting the photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen generation based on II-VI quantum dot (QDs), but remains challenging due to the lack of effective strategies. Herein, a facile strategy is reported to regulate the recombination and transfer of interfacial charges through tuning the surface stoichiometry of heterostructured QDs. Using this method, it is demonstrated that the PEC cells based on CdSe-(Se_x S_{1- x} )₄ -(CdS)₂ core/shell QDs with a proper S_surface /Cd_surface ratio exhibits a remarkably improved photocurrent density (≈18.4 mA cm^-2 under one sun illumination), superior to the PEC cells based on QDs with Cd-rich or excessive S-rich surface. In-depth electrochemical and spectroscopic characterizations reveal the critical role (hole traps) of surface S atoms in suppressing the recombination of photogenerated charges, and further attribute the inferior performance of excessive S-rich QDs to the impeded charge transfer from QDs to TiO₂ and electrolyte. This work puts forward a simple surface engineering strategy for improving the performance of QDs PEC cells, providing an efficient method to guide the surface design of QDs for their applications in other optoelectronic devices.

Recent Developments and Perspectives of Cobalt Sulfide-Based Composite Materials in Photocatalysis

Photocatalysis, as an inexpensive and safe technology to convert solar energy, is essential for the efficient utilization of sustainable renewable energy sources. Earth-abundant cobalt sulfide-based composites have generated great interest in the field of solar fuel conversion because of their cheap, diverse structures and facile preparation. Over the past 10 years, the number of reports on cobalt sulfide-based photocatalysts has increased year by year, and more than 500 publications on the application of cobalt sulfide groups in photocatalysis can be found in the last three years. In this review, we initially summarize the four common strategies for preparing cobalt sulfide-based composite materials. Then, the multiple roles of cobalt sulfide-based cocatalysts in photocatalysis have been discussed. After that, we present the latest progress of cobalt sulfide in four fields of photocatalysis application, including photocatalytic hydrogen production, carbon dioxide reduction, nitrogen fixation, and photocatalytic degradation of pollutants. Finally, the development prospects and challenges of cobalt sulfide-based photocatalysts are discussed. This review is expected to provide useful reference for the construction of high-performance cobalt sulfide-based composite photocatalytic materials for sustainable solar-chemical energy conversion.

In-situ synthesis of novel dual S-scheme AgI/Ag6Mo7O24/g-C3N4 heterojunctions with tandem structure for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants

The controllable design of multivariate heterojunction with sequential structures is of significant relevance for breaking the performance limit of binary composite photocatalysts. In this work, the novel dual S-scheme ternary-component AgI/Ag₆Mo₇O₂₄/exfoliated g-C₃N₄ (ECN) composite was prepared by a two-step in-situ synthetic strategy. The energy band bending at the heterointerface and the formation of dual built-in electric field could be observed due to distinct work functions of different components in the ternary composite. Benefiting from the sequential heterojunction structure, the AgI/Ag₆Mo₇O₂₄/ECN composite achieved 98.7% removal efficiency of 2-nitrophenol (2-NP) within 70 min under visible light irradiation, and AgI/Ag₆Mo₇O₂₄/ECN also showed higher degradation efficiency for a variety of organic pollutants such as methylene blue (MB), rhodamine B (RhB), methyl orange (MO), 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), 2-sec-butyl-4,6-dinitrophenol (DNBP) and tetracycline (TC). Notably, •OH and •O₂^- played dominant roles in the AgI/Ag₆Mo₇O₂₄/ECN set up, which was consistent with the dual S-scheme charge transfer mechanism. In-depth insights for the photodegradation of 2-NP were presented based on a combined DFT study and GC-MS analysis. Additionally, the photoreduction of Ag⁺ in AgI/Ag₆Mo₇O₂₄/ECN was also evaded by the fast transfer of photogenerated electrons through the dual S-scheme pathway, achieving the effect of killing two birds with one stone.

Enhanced Titania Photocatalyst on Magnesium Oxide Support Doped with Molybdenum

Titania photocatalysts supported on mesoporous MgO carriers doped with Mo(VI) ions were prepared and characterized by XRD, BET nitrogen adsorption, FT-IR, and EPR methods. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by bleaching an aqueous dye solution in the presence of a dispersed photocatalyst and by bleaching the dry surface of a solid tablet of photocatalyst using rhodamine B and nigrosin as model organic pollutants. It was established that TiO2 photocatalyst based on MgO carrier doped with 1 wt.% Mo(VI) ions, with the ratio of MgO:TiO2 = 1:0.5, possessed the highest activity under UV radiation. The increase in the content of molybdenum up to 10 wt.% leads to the formation of a MoO3 nanophase on the MgO surface, the formation of an isotype n–n heterojunction at the MoO3/TiO2 interface, and photocatalytic activity under the action of visible light.

In situ self-exsolved ultrasmall Fe2P quantum dots from attapulgite nanofibers as superior cocatalysts for solar hydrogen evolution

Developing highly active, stable, and cost-efficient cocatalysts for photocatalytic H₂ evolution is pivotal in the area of renewable energy conversion. Herein, we present a straightforward, low-temperature phosphidation strategy for in situ exsolving doped Fe ions from natural attapulgite (ATP) nanofibers into a supported Fe₂P cocatalyst for the photocatalytic H₂ evolution reaction (HER). The resulting Fe₂P QDs/ATP features highly dispersed Fe₂P QDs with an average size of <2 nm and a strong interfacial interaction between self-exsolved Fe₂P QDs and the ATP substrate, thus providing ample and stable active sites for the photocatalytic HER. When employed as a cocatalyst, Fe₂P QDs/ATP exhibits superior catalytic activity and notable stability in a molecular system with low-cost xanthene dyes as the photosensitizer under visible light irradiation. More importantly, Fe₂P QDs/ATP can also efficiently and stably catalyze the photocatalytic HER when simply combined with various semiconductor photocatalysts (g-C₃N₄, TiO₂, and CdS). This strategy of exsolving transition metal ions from substrates is an effective yet simple approach for the development of highly active supported HER cocatalysts for renewable and clean energy conversion.

Graphene oxide-incorporated silver-based photocatalysts for enhanced degradation of organic toxins: a review

Environmental contamination and scarcity of energy have been deepening over the last few decades. Heterogeneous photocatalysis plays a prominent role in environmental remediation. The failure of earlier metal oxide systems like pure TiO₂ and ZnO as stable visible-light photocatalysts demanded more stable catalysts with high photodegradation efficiency. Silver-based semiconductor materials gained popularity as visible-light-responsive photocatalysts with a narrow bandgap. But their large-scale usage in natural water bodies for organic contaminant removal is minimal. The factors like self-photocorrosion and their slight solubility in water have prevented the commercial use. Various efforts have been made to improve their photocatalytic activity. This review focuses on those studies in which silver-based semiconductor materials are integrated with carbonaceous graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO). The decoration of Ag-based semiconductor components on graphene oxide having high-surface area results in binary composites with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity and stability. It is found that the introduction of new efficient materials further increases the effectiveness of the system. So binary and ternary composites of GO and Ag-based materials are reviewed in this paper.

Graphitic-C3N4/chitosan-doped NiO nanostructure to treat the polluted water and their bactericidal with in silico molecular docking analysis

Different concentrations (2 and 4 wt%) of graphite carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was doped into fixed amount of chitosan (CS) and nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles (NPs) via a co-precipitation route. The aim of study is to remove the pollutants from wastewater through catalytic activity (CA) and determine the bactericidal activities of synthesized products. X-ray diffraction pattern confirmed the cubic structure of NiO NPs and peak shifted to higher angle upon g-C3N4 doping. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed the existence of bending and stretching vibration mode. The absorption decreased gradually accompanied blue-shift and assessed bandgap energy increased upon doping. The high resolution transmission electron microscopy micrographs confirmed the formation of cubic-shaped NPs and elongated nanorods were seen for NiO and co-doped NiO. The catalytic efficiency of samples was examined using methylene blue (MB) in the presence of reducing agent. A remarkable dye de-colorization was confirmed with a g-C3N4 and CS doping; moreover, the bactericidal efficacy compared to Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was observed as 3.15 and 13.8 mm, respectively. In silico, molecular docking investigations targeting against b-lactamaseS. aureus and FabHE. coli enzymes assisted to elaborate the mechanism underlying microbicidal action of the NPs.

Hydrothermally derived Cr-doped SnO2 nanoflakes for enhanced photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical water oxidation performance under visible light irradiation

Photocatalytic dye degradation is a method of environmental degradation that is commonly used to eliminate various pollutants produced by pharmaceutical and textile industries. Herein, pure and chromium (Cr)-doped SnO₂ nanoflakes were synthesized using a simple facile hydrothermal method and photocatalytic properties were studied under visible light illumination. In addition, photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation properties were also studied using the prepared samples. Doping of transition metal ions introduces structural defects, which narrow the band gap of host sample, resulting in high catalytic activity. The synthesized doped SnO₂ displayed a rutile tetragonal crystal phase with a nanoflakes-like surface morphology having no other contaminations. The optical band gap of Cr-doped SnO₂ nanoflakes was significantly reduced (2.48 eV) over the pure sample (3.32 eV), due to successful incorporation of Cr ions into the host lattice. Furthermore, the dye removal efficiency of these nanoflakes was investigated for methyl orange (MO) and tetracycline (TC) organic contaminations. The Cr-doped SnO₂ nanoflakes exhibited superior photodegradation with 87.8% and 90.6% dye removal efficiency, within 90 min of light illumination. PEC water oxidation analysis showed that the doped photoelectrode achieved enhanced photocurrent density and showed a higher photocurrent density (1.08 mA cm^-2) over that of the undoped electrode (0.60 mA cm^-2). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) showed that doped electrodes exhibited lesser charge resistance than the pure electrode. The synthesized Cr-doped SnO₂ nanoflakes are suitable for water oxidation and photodegradation of organic pollutants. Thus, we strongly believe that the obtained results in this report will continue to provide new opportunities for the improvement of effective visible light photocatalysts for industrial wastewater treatment and water splitting for H₂ generation.

Increased photocorrosion resistance of ZnO foams via transition metal doping

ZnO is a widely studied photocatalyst, but practical use is hindered by its low resistance to photocorrosion in water, which leads to metal leaching and loss of performance over time. In this work, highly porous and mechanically stable ZnO foams, called MolFoams, were doped by adding 1% or 2% Co, Ni or Cu salts to the starting Zn salt, followed by air insufflation during a sol-gel rection and sintering. The resulting doped foams showed a major increase in stability, with a 60-85% reduction in Zn²⁺ leaching after irradiation, albeit with a reduction in photocatalytic activity. A systematic analysis using XRD, Raman, XPS and XANES allowed for the identification of dopant species in the foams revealing the presence of Co₃O₄, NiO and Cu₂O within the ZnO lattice with doping leading to a reduced band gap and significant increases in the resistance to photocorrosion of ZnO while identifying the cause of the reduction in photocatalytic activity to be shifting of the band edge positions. These results provide a pathway to significantly reduce the photocorrosion of ZnO in water, with further work required to maintain the photocatalytic activity of undoped ZnO.

Spatial Separation of Cocatalysts on Z-Scheme Organic/Inorganic Heterostructure Hollow Spheres for Enhanced Photocatalytic H2 Evolution and In-Depth Analysis of the Charge-Transfer Mechanism

A Z-scheme heterojunction with spatially separated cocatalysts is proposed for overcoming fundamental issues in photocatalytic water splitting, such as inefficient light absorption, charge recombination, and sluggish reaction kinetics. For efficient light absorption and interfacial charge separation, Z-scheme organic/inorganic heterojunction photocatalysts are synthesized by firmly immobilizing ultrathin g-C₃ N₄ on the surface of TiO₂ hollow spheres via electrostatic interactions. Additionally, two cocatalysts, Pt and IrO_x , are spatially separated along the Z-scheme charge-transfer pathway to enhance surface charge separation and reaction kinetics. The as-prepared Pt/g-C₃ N₄ /TiO₂ /IrO_x (PCTI) hollow sphere photocatalyst exhibits an exceptional H₂ evolution rate of 8.15 mmol h^-1 g^-1 and a remarkable apparent quantum yield of 24.3% at 330 nm in the presence of 0.5 wt% Pt and 1.2 wt% IrO_x cocatalysts on g-C₃ N₄ and TiO₂ , respectively. Photoassisted Kelvin probe force microscopy is used to systematically analyze the Z-scheme charge-transfer mechanism within PCTI. Furthermore, the benefits of spatially separating cocatalysts in the PCTI system are methodically investigated in comparison to randomly depositing them. This work adequately demonstrates that the combination of a Z-scheme heterojunction and spatially separated cocatalysts can be a promising strategy for designing high-performance photocatalytic platforms for solar fuel production.

A review on the progress of the photocatalytic removal of refractory pollutants from water by BiOBr-based nanocomposites

Organic matters from various sources such as the manufacturing, agricultural, and pharmaceuticals industries is continuously discharged into water bodies, leading to increasingly serious water pollution. Photocatalytic technology is a clean and green advanced oxidation process, that can successfully decompose various organic pollutants into small inorganic molecules such as carbon dioxide and water under visible light irradiation. Bismuth oxybromide (BiOBr) is an attractive visible light photocatalyst with good photocatalytic performance, suitable forbidden bandwidth, and a unique layered structure. However, the rapid combination of the electron-hole pairs generated in BiOBr leads to low photocatalytic activity, which limits its photocatalytic performance. Due to its unique electronic structure, BiOBr can be coupled with a variety of different functional materials to improve its photocatalytic performance. In this paper, We present the morphologically controllable BiOBr and its preparation process with the influence of raw materials, additives, solvents, synthesis methods, and synthesis conditions. Based on this, we propose design synthesis considerations for BiOBr-based nanocomplexes in four aspects: structure, morphology and crystalline phase, reduction of electron-hole pair complexation, photocorrosion resistance, and scale-up synthesis. The literature on BiOBr-based nanocomposites in the last 10 years (2012-2022) are summarized into seven categories, and the mechanism of enhanced photocatalytic activity of BiOBr-based nanocomposites is reviewed. Moreover, the applications of BiOBr-based nanocomposites in the fields of degradation of dye wastewater, antibiotic wastewater, pesticide wastewater, and phenol-containing wastewater are reviewed. Finally, the current challenges and prospects of BiOBr-based nanocomposites are briefly described. In general, this paper reviews the construction of BiOBr-based nanocomposites, the mechanism of photocatalytic activity enhancement and its research status and application prospects in the degradation of organic pollutants.

Exploring the Photocorrosion Mechanism of a Photocatalyst

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting using Ta₃N₅ anodes shows a high solar-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiency approaching 10%. However, the long-term stability of gas evolution should be improved for the commercial utilization of PEC water-splitting technology. Herein, we examined the photocurrent degradation of photoanodes prepared by uniformly loading a NiFeO_x cocatalyst onto a Ta₃N₅ semiconductor. Although spectroscopic analysis showed that the degradation was attributable to the formation of an oxide layer, several oxide growth kinetic laws and mechanisms are known. We theoretically derived the photocurrent kinetic laws instead of the oxide growth kinetic laws by generalizing the Cabrera-Mott oxidation theory of metal oxidation in air to apply it to photocorrosion. The measured photocurrent kinetics are fully consistent with the theoretical kinetic laws. We show that ion drift due to charging of the oxide layer limits oxide growth even though uniform cocatalyst loading is designed to prevent self-oxidation of Ta₃N₅.

Synthesis of dye-sensitized TiO2/Ag doped nano-composites using UV photoreduction process for phenol degradation: A comparative study

This study investigates a comparison between the photocatalytic action of two nanocomposites (TiO₂ and TiO₂(Ag) doped) on the degradation of phenol from water. The nanocomposites were synthesized by the UV photo-reduction process to get a silver metal loading of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1% (w/w). In addition to this, Eriochrome Cyanine Red (ECR) and Eosin Yellow (EY) both anionic dyes were used for sensitization of Ag-doped TiO₂ photo-catalyst such as TiO₂(Ag)ECR and TiO₂(Ag)EY. The TiO₂(Ag-1.0)EY photo-catalyst indicated higher absorbance compared to the TiO₂(Ag-1.0)ECR in the 400-700 nm range (visible range). The degradation of phenol was tested by varying the pH, silver loading and catalyst dosage. The maximum degradation of phenol was 98% in 180 min at pH 7 in presence of 1% (w/w) silver loading with 0.5 gL^-1 dosage of photo-catalyst TiO₂(Ag-1.0)EY. At this condition, the reduction in the phenol concentration was noticed from 20 mg/L to 0.4 mg/L.