Effect of Porphyrin Molecular Structure on Water Splitting Activity of a KTaO3 Photocatalyst

Dye-Modified, Sonochemically Obtained Nano-SnS2 as an Efficient Photocatalyst for Metanil Yellow Removal

We investigate the possibility of modification of SnS2 powder through sonochemical synthesis with the addition of an organic ligand. For that purpose, two organic dyes are used, Phenol Red and Anthraquinone Violet. All obtained powders are characterized using XRD, SEM, EDX, FT-IR, and UV-Vis investigations. Synthesized samples showed composition and structural properties typical for sonochemically synthesized SnS2. However, investigation with the Tauc method revealed that SnS2 powder modified with Phenol Red exhibits a significant shift in value of optical bandgap to 2.56 eV, while unmodified SnS2 shows an optical bandgap value of 2.42 eV. The modification of SnS2 powder with Anthraquinone Violet was unsuccessful. The obtained nanopowders were utilized as photocatalysts in the process of Metanil Yellow degradation, revealing that SnS2 modified with Phenol Red shows about 23% better performance than the unmodified one. The mean sonochemical efficiency of the performed synthesis is also estimated as 9.35 µg/W.

Photocatalysis and perovskite oxide-based materials: a remedy for a clean and sustainable future

The massive use of non-renewable energy resources by humankind to fulfill their energy demands is causing severe environmental issues. Photocatalysis is considered one of the potential solutions for a clean and sustainable future because of its cleanliness, inexhaustibility, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Significant efforts have been made to design highly proficient photocatalyst materials for various applications such as water pollutant degradation, water splitting, CO2 reduction, and nitrogen fixation. Perovskite photocatalyst materials are gained special attention due to their exceptional properties because of their flexibility in chemical composition, structure, bandgap, oxidation states, and valence states. The current review is focused on perovskite materials and their applications in photocatalysis. Special attention has been given to the structural, stoichiometric, and compositional flexibility of perovskite photocatalyst materials. The photocatalytic activity of perovskite materials in different photocatalysis applications is also discussed. Various mechanisms involved in photocatalysis application from wastewater treatment to hydrogen production are also provided. The key objective of this review is to encapsulate the role of perovskite materials in photocatalysis along with their fundamental properties to provide valuable insight for addressing future environmental challenges.

High-field polarization boosting visible-light photocatalytic H2 evolution of narrow-bandgap semiconducting (1 − x)KNbO3–xBa(Ni1/2Nb1/2)O3−δ ferroelectric ceramics

The photocatalytic H2 evolution of semiconducting KN-based ferroelectrics and its further boosting via a high-field polarization has been studied.

In-Situ Growth of Au on KTaO3 Sub-Micron Cubes via Wet Chemical Approach for Enhanced Photodegradation of p-Nitrophenol

KTaO₃/Au hetero-nanostructures were synthesized by in-situ reduction of HAuCl₄ on the surface of hydrothermally-grown KTaO₃ sub-micron cubes. The concentration of Au source was found to be a critical factor in controlling the hetero-nucleation of Au nanoparticles on the surface of KTaO₃ sub-micron cubes. Loading of Au particles on KTaO₃ nanocrystals enriched KTaO₃ additional UV-vis absorption in the visible light region. Both KTaO₃ and KTaO₃/Au nanocrystals were shown to be active in the photo-degradation of p-nitrophenol, while the loading of Au on KTaO₃ clearly improved the photo-degradation efficiency of p-nitrophenol compared to that on bare KTaO₃ nanocrystals, probably due to the improved light absorption and charge separation.

Recent Progress on Titanium Dioxide Nanomaterials for Photocatalytic Applications

Environmental and energy problems have drawn much attention owing to rapid population growth and accelerated economic development. For instance, photocatalysis, "a green technology", plays an important role in solar-energy conversion owing to its potential to solve energy and environmental problems. Recently, many efforts have been devoted to improving visible-light photocatalytic activity by using titanium dioxide as a photocatalyst as a result of its wide range of applications in the energy and environment fields. However, fast charge recombination and an absorption edge in the UV range limit the photocatalytic efficiency of TiO₂ under visible-light irradiation. Many investigations have been undertaken to overcome the limitations of TiO₂ and, therefore, to enhance its photocatalytic activity under visible light. The present literature review focuses on different strategies used to promote the separation efficiency of electron-hole pairs and to shift the absorption edge of TiO₂ to the visible region. Current synthesis techniques used to elaborate several nanostructures of TiO₂ -based materials, recent progress in enhancing visible photocatalytic activity, and different photocatalysis applications will be discussed. On the basis of the studies reported in the literature, we believe that this review will help in the development of new strategies to improve the visible-light photocatalytic performance of TiO₂ -based materials further.