Rare Earth Ion Yb^3+ Doping of Bi2WO6 with Excellent Visible-light Photocatalytic Activity

The rare earth ion Yb^3+ doped Bi2WO6 photocatalysts were synthesized by hydrothermal method.Moreover,XRD,XPS,FESEM,TEM,Ramam,N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm measurements and UV-vis diffusion reflectance spectra were used to characterize the Yb^3+ doped Bi2WO6 photocatalysts.The morphology,specific surface area,and pore volume distribution were greatly affected after Yb3+ ions doping.Photocatalytic performance of Bi2WO6 was effectively enhanced after Yb3+ ions doping,6% Yb^3+ doped Bi2WO6 had the best photocatalytic performance,and 96.2% Rhodamine B was degradated after irradiated 30 min,which was 1.29 times that of the pristine one.The enhanced photocatalytic performance was due to the increased specific surface area,decreased energy band gap and inhibition of photoelectron-hole recombination after Yb3+ ions doping.

Achieving high-efficient photocatalytic persulfate-activated degradation of tetracycline via carbon dots modified MIL-101(Fe)octahedrons

The synergistic reaction of photocatalysis and advanced oxidation is a valid strategy for the degradation of harmful antibiotic wastewater.Herein,carbon dots(CDs)modified MIL-101(Fe)octahedrons to form CDs/MIL-101(Fe)composite photocatalyst was synthesized for visible light-driven photocatalytic/persulfate(PS)-activated tetracycline(TC)degradation.The electron spin resonance(ESR)spectra,scavenging experiment and electrochemical analysis were carried out to reveal that the high visible light-driven photocatalytic degradation activity of TC over CDs/MIL-101(Fe)photocatalysts is not only ascribed to the production of free active radicals in the CDs/MIL-101(Fe)/PS system(·OH,·SO_(4-),^(1)O_(2),h^(+)and·O_(2)^(-))but also attributed to the consumption of electrons caused by the PS,which can suppress the recombination of photo-generated carriers as well as strong light scattering and electron trapping effects of CDs.Finally,the possible degradation pathways were proposed by analyzing intermediates via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry technique.This research presents a rational design conception to construct a CDs/PS-based photocatalysis/advanced oxidation technology with high-efficient degradation activity for the remediation of organic antibiotic pollutant wastewater and for the improvement of carrier transport kinetics of photocatalysts.

Superwetting Ag/α-Fe_(2)O_(3) anchored mesh with enhanced photocatalytic and antibacterial activities for efficient water purification

Superwetting materials have drawn unprecedented attention in the treatment of oily wastewater due to their preferable anti-fouling property and selective oil/water separation.However,it is still a challenge to fabricate multifunctional and environmentally friendly materials,which can be stably applied to purify the actual complicated wastewater.Here,a Ag/Ag/α-Fe_(2)O_(3) heterostructure anchored copper mesh was intentionally synthesized using a facile two-step hydrothermal method.The resultant mesh with superhydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity was capable of separating various oil/water mixtures with superior separation efficiency and high permeationflux driven by gravity.Benefiting from the joint effects of the smaller band gap of Ag/α-Fe_(2)O_(3) heterojunction,inherent antibacterial capacity of Ag/α-Fe_(2)O_(3) and Ag nanoparticles,favorable conductive substrate,as well as the hierarchical structure with superwettability,such mesh presented remarkably enhanced degradation capability toward organic dyes under visible light irradiation and antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli(E.coli)and Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus)compared with the pure Ag/α-Fe_(2)O_(3) coated mesh.Impressively,the mesh exhibited bifunctional water purification performance,in which organic dyes were eliminated simultaneously from water during oil/water separation in onefiltration process.More importantly,this mesh behaved exceptional chemical resistance,mechanical stability and long-term reusability.Therefore,this material with multifunctional integration may hold promising potential for steady water purification in practice.

Synthesis of crystal-phase and color tunable mixed anion co-doped titanium oxides and their controllable photocatalytic activity

B and N mixed anions co-doped titania with various crystal phases such as anatase,brookite,and rutile were successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal synthesis followed by heat treatment in an ammonia gas atmosphere at 550-650℃(denoted as BN-Ana_x,BN-Bro_x,and BN-Rut_x,x is the treatment temperature).The colors of as-prepared BN-Ana,BN-Bro,and BN-Rut are red,yellow-green,and cyangreen,respectively.The color changing mechanism of titania was related to their various band gap structure and the existence of B-N bonding.The nitridation temperature exhibits effective color changing compared to that of nitridation time.The different phases of the mixed anion codoped titania possess different photocatalytic deNO_(x) activity.The BN-Ana and BN-Rut show poor photocatalytic deNO_(x) activity,while the BN-Bro shows excellent photocatalytic deNO_(x) activity,better than that of standard titania photocatalyst Degussa P25.The colorful titania with low-photocatalytic activity is heavy metal elements free,indicating their possible applications as nontoxic color pigments or novel cosmetic raw materials.

Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of cube-like Ag-Ag_2MoO_4 with visible-light photocatalytic activity

Cube-like Ag-Ag2MoO4 composite has been successfully prepared in the presence of PVP （potyvinylpyrrolidone） via a facile microwave-assisted hydrothermal process. Studies of its photocatalytic performance in the decomposition of RhB indicate that the cube-like Ag-Ag2MoO4 composite exhibits good catalytic activities under visible-light irradiation. The face that Ag pro- motes the absorption of visible light may be attributed to the surface plasmon resonance. Further XRD characterization after recycle photocatalytic tests confirms that partial Ag~ ions in Ag2MoO4 have been reduced to metallic Ag. Reaction temperature, reaction time and the amount of PVP have also been studied and found to play crucial roles in the formation of the cube-like microstructures.

Fabrication of Ag3PO4-AgBr-PTh composite loaded on Na2SiO3 with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity

A novel Ag3PO4-AgBr-PTh composite loaded on Na2SiO3 was synthesized for enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity. The photocatalyUc activity of the samples was evaluated by photodegrading rhodamine B （RhB） under visible light irradiation. The main reactive species and possible photocatalytic mechanism were also discussed. As a result, the Ag3PO4-AgBr-PTh composite loaded on Na2SiO3 exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity for RhB compared with Ag3PO4 under visible-light irradiation. Additionally, it was demonstrated that the hole （h＋） and superoxide radical （·O2-） were the major reactive species involving in the RhB degradation. PTh played vital role for the enhanced photocatalytic activity of Ag3PO4-AgBr-PTh-Na2SiO3 composite, which offered an electron transfer expressway and accelerated the transfer of the electrons from the CB of AgBr into Ag3PO4. This work could provide a new perspective for the synthesis of Ag3PO4-based composites and the improvement of photocatalytic activity of Ag3PO4.

Tunable Synthesis of Core-shell a-Fe2O3/TiO2 Composite Nanoparticles and Their Visible-light Photocatalytic Activity

Uniform a-Fe203/amorphous TiO2 core-shell nanocomposites were prepared via a hydrolysis method anda-Fe2OJanatase TiO2 core-shell nanocomposites were obtained via a post-calcination process. The structure andmorphology of the products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Amorphous TiO2 nanoparticles with diametersof ten to several tens nanometer were formed on the surface of a-Fe203 nanoparticles and the coverage density of thesecondary TiO2 nanoparticles in the composite can be controlled by varying the concentration of Ti（BuO）4 m theethanol solution. The visible-light photocatalytic properties of different products towards Rhodamine B（RhB） wereinvestigated. The results show that the a-Fe203/amorphous TiO2 exhibits a good photocatalytic property owing to theextension of the light response range to visible light and the efficient separation of photogenerated electrons and holesbetween a-Fe203 and amorphous TiO2.

Synthesis and highly efficient photocatalytic activity of mixed oxides derived from ZnNiAl layered double hydroxides

ZnO/NiO/ZnAl2O4 mixed-metal oxides were successfully synthesized through a hydrotalcite-like precursor route, in which appropriate amounts of metal salts solutions were mixed to obtain a new series of ZnNiAl layered double hydroxides（LDHs） as precursors, followed by calcination under different temperatures. The as-obtained samples were characterized by SEM, HRTEM, TEM, XRD, BET, TG-DTA, and UV-Vis spectra techniques. The photocatalytic activities of the samples were evaluated by degradation of methyl orange（MO） under the simulated sunlight irradiation. The effects of Zn/Ni/Al mole ratio and calcination temperature on the composition, morphology and photocatalytic activity of the samples were investigated in detail. The results indicated that compared with ZnNiAl-LDHs, the mixed-metal oxide showed superior photocatalytic performance for the degradation of MO. A maximum of 97.3% photocatalytic decoloration rate within 60 min was achieved from the LDH with the Zn/Ni/Al mole ratio of 2：1：1 and the calcination temperature of 500 ℃, which much exceeded that of Degussa P25 under the same conditions. The possible mechanism of photocatalytic degradation over ZnO/NiO/ZnAl2O4 was discussed.

Effects of Fe content on photocatalytic activity of CaTiO_3-Fe_x

CaTiO 3-Fex was characterized by X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometry system, Fourier transform infrared spectra, and UV-visible spectra. Effects of Fe content on photocatalytic activity of CaTiO3-Fex were investigated through measuring photocatalytic degradation rate of methylene blue. The results show that chemical compositions of CaTiO3-Fex remained unchanged with increasing Fe content from 0 to 4.745%. However, the light absorption ability of CaTiO3-Fex exhibited a significant increase with increasing Fe content. Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue over CaTiO3-Fex followed the first-order reaction kinetics. Based on changes of the concentration of methylene blue and its degradation kinetics, CaTiO3-Fe0.474% has shown to have optimal photocatalytic activity. The degradation rate of methylene blue over CaTiO3-Fe0.474% was almost 100% under UV-visible light irradiation for 3.0 h. The kobs of methylene blue over CaTiO 3-Fe0.474% was 1.33 h-1 and was 7 times that over CaTiO3-Fe0.

Preparation, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of Fe, La Co-doped Nanometer Titanium Dioxide Photocatalysts

A series of photocatalysts of un-doped, single-doped and co-doped nanometer titanium diox- ide （TiO2） have been successfully prepared by template method using Fe（NO3）3.9H2O, La（NO3）3.6H2O, and tetrabutyl titanate as precursors and glucan as template. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and N2 adsorption-desorption measurement were employed to characterize the morphology, crystal structure and surface structure of the samples. The photo-absorbance of the obtained catalysts was measured by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, and the photocatalytic activities of the prepared samples under UV and visible light were estimated by measuring the degradation rate of methyl orange in an aqueous solution. The characterizations indicated that the prepared photocatalysts consisted of anatase phase and possessed high surface area of ca. 163-176 m2/g. It was shown that the Fe and La co-doped nano-TiO2 could be activated by visible light and could thus be used as an effective catalyst in photo-oxidation reactions. The synergistic effect of Fe and La co-doping played an important role in improving the photocatalytic activity. In addition, the possibility of cyclic usage of co-doped nano-TiO2 was also confirmed, the photocatalytic activity of codoped nano-TiO2 remained above 89.6% of the fresh sample after being used four times.

Photocatalytic activity of Fe-doped diopside

UV-visible light induced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) over Fe-doped diopside was investigated. The structure, composition, morphology and absorption property of UV-visible light of as-prepared samples were characterized using XRD, SEM, FTIR and UV-vis DRS. The experimental results show that doping Fe3+ induced the formation of some new species in diopside, and promoted light adsorption property of diopside in UV-visible region. Photochemical reactivity of Fe-doped diopside obviously depended on the content of doping Fe3+. The diopside with 1.848% Fe3+ exhibited the superior photocatalytic activity with 95% degradation of MB under UV-visible light for 3 h. The photocatalytic degradation kinetics of MB over all samples showed the first-order reaction nature.

Preparation, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of Lanthanum Doped Mesoporous Titanium Dioxide

Lanthanum doped mesoporous titanium dioxide photocatalysts with different La content were synthesized by template method using tetrabutyltitanate （Ti（OC4H9）4） as precursor and Pluronic P123 as template. The catalysts were characterized by thermogravimetric dif ferential thermal analysis, N2 adsorption-desorption measurements, X-ray diffraction, and UV-Vis adsorption spectroscopy. The effect of La3＋ doping concentration from 0.1% to 1% on the photocatalytic activity of mesoporous TiO2 was investigated. The characterizations indicated that the photocatalysts possessed a homogeneous pore diameter of about 10 nm with high surface area of 165 m2/g. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements in- dicated the presence of C in the doped samples in addition to La. Compared with pure mesoporous TiO2, the La-doped samples extended the photoabsorption edge into the visible light region. The results of phenol photodecomposition showed that La-doped mesoporous TiO2 exhibited higher photocatalytic activities than pure mesoporous TiO2 under UV and visible light irradiation.

Preparation of ZnO Nanoparticles and Photocatalytic H2 Production Activity from Different Sacrificial Reagent Solutions

ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized via a direct precipitation method followed by a hetero- geneous azeotropic distillation and calcination processes, and then characterized by X-ray power diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and ni- trogen adsorption-desorption measurement. The effects of Pt-loading amount, calcination temperature, and sacrificial reagents on the present ZnO suspension were investigated, photocatalytic H2 evolution efficiency from the The experimental results indicate that ZnO rianoparticles calcined at 400℃ exhibit the best photoactivity for the H2 production in comparison with the samples calcined at 300 and 500℃, and the photoeatalytie H2 production efficiency from a methanol solution is much higher than that from a triethanolamine solution. It can be ascribed to the oxidization of methanol also contributes to the H2 production during the photochemical reaction process. Moreover, the photocatalytic mechanism for the H2 production from the present ZnO suspension system containing methanol solution is also discussed in detail.

Maximizing the potential applications of plasma electrolytic oxidation coatings produced on Mg-based alloys in anti-corrosion,antibacterial,and photocatalytic targeting through harnessing the LDH/PEO dual structure

There is an increasing interest in the development of Mg alloys,both for industrial and biomedical applications,due to their favorable characteristics such as being lightweight and robust.However,the inadequate corrosion resistance and lack of antibacterial properties pose significant challenges in the industrial and biomedical applications,necessitating the implementation of advanced coating engineering techniques.Plasma electrolytic oxidation(PEO)has emerged as a preferred coating technique because of its distinctive properties and successful surface modification results.However,there is a continuous need for further enhancements to optimize the performance and functionalities of protective surface treatments.The integration of layered double hydroxide(LDH)into PEO coatings on Mg alloys presents a promising approach to bolstering protective properties.This thorough review delves into the latest developments in integrating LDH into PEO coatings for corrosion-related purposes.It particularly emphasizes the significant improvements in corrosion resistance,antibacterial effectiveness,and photocatalytic performance resulting from the incorporation of LDH into PEO coatings.The two key mechanisms that enhance the corrosion resistance of PEO coatings containing LDH are the anion exchangeability of the LDH structure and the pore-sealing effect.Moreover,the antibacterial activity of PEO coatings with LDH stemmed from the release of antibacterial agents stored within the LDH structure,alterations in pH levels,and the photothermal conversion property.Furthermore,by incorporating LDH into PEO coatings,new opportunities emerge for tackling environmental issues through boosted photocatalytic properties,especially in the realm of pollutant degradation.

Surface growth of novel MOFs on AZ31 Mg alloy coated via plasma electrolytic oxidation for enhanced corrosion protection and photocatalytic performance

In the pursuit of multifunctional coatings,the controlled growth of materials on stationary platforms holds paramount importance for achieving superior corrosion protection and optimal photocatalytic performance.This study introduces a cutting-edge approach,intertwining bifunctional metal-organic frameworks(MOFs)seamlessly into defective MgO layers produced by the anodic oxidation of AZ31 alloy.Key metallic oxides of Zn,Sn,and V take center stage as metallic sources for MOF formation,complemented by the organic prowess of L-Tryptophan as anα-amino acid linker.Leveraging the electronic structure of metallic oxides reacting with tryptophan molecules,controlled morphologies with distinct characteristics are induced on the defective surface of the MgO layer,enabling the precise modulation of surface defects.The hybrid composite demonstrates an adaptive microstructure in diverse aqueous environments,offering dual functionality with electrochemical stability and visible light photocatalytic activity for crystal violet degradation.Among the samples,the SnOF complex exhibited remarkable electrochemical stability with a low corrosion current density of 7.50×10^(−10)A·cm^(−2),along with a 94.56%degradation efficiency after 90 min under visible light exposure.The VOF complex,under similar visible light conditions,demonstrated exceptional performance with a higher degradation efficiency of 97.79%and excellent electrochemical stability characterized by a corrosion current density of 3.26×10^(−9)A·cm^(−2).Additionally,Density Functional Theory(DFT)computations shed light on the basic bonding patterns between MOFs and inorganic components,providing electronic understanding of their electrochemical and photocatalytic activities.

Facile synthesis of tin oxide nanocrystals and their photocatalytic activity

Tin oxide nanociystals with diameters smaller than 10 nm were synthesized using Na2SnO3 and CO2 as reactants and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide（CTAB） as stabilizer under mild conditions.As a mild acidic gas,CO2 is favorable for the accurate adjustment of pH value of Na2SnO3 solution.Stannate salt is stable,cheap and easy in operation.The effects of Na2SnO3concentration,CTAB concentration,aging temperature,and aging time on the nanociystals were studied.It was found that,with the increasing Na2SnO3 concentration,aging temperature and aging time,SnO2 nanociystals size decreases.The formation of SnO2nanociystals can be interpreted by electrostatic-interaction mechanism.SnO2 nanociystals show high photocatalytic activities in the degradation of Rhodamine B solution.The catalytic activity of small nanocrystals is higher than that of large ones.

Preparation, Characterization, Photocatalytic Activity of S and Ag co-Doped Mesoporous Titania Photocatalysts

In order to improve the photocatalytic performance of mesoporous titania under visible light, a series of photocatalysts of S and Ag co-doped mesoporous titania have been successfully prepared by template method using thiourea, AgNO3 and tetrabutyl titanate as precursors and Pluronic P123 （EO20PO70EO20） as template. Scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, X-ray diffraction （XRD）, nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements, and UV-visible spectroscopy （UV-Vis） were employed to characterize the morphology, crystal structure, surface structure, and optical absorption properties of the samples. The microcrystal of the photocatalysts consisted of anatase phase and was approximately present in the form of spherical particle. The photocatalytic performance was studied by photodegradation methyl orange （MO） in water under UV and visible light irradiation. The calcination temperature and the doping content influenced the photoactivity. In addition, the possibility of cyclic usage of co-doped mesoporous titania was also confirmed, the photocatalytic activity of mesoporous titania remained above 89% of that of the fresh sample after being used four times. It was shown that the co-doped mesoporous titania could be activated by visible light and could thus be potentially applied for the treatment of water contaminated by organic pollutants. The synergistic effect of sulfur and silver co-doping played an important role in improving the photocatalytic activity.

Layer-Contacted Graphene-Like BN/Ultrathin Bi_(3)O_(4)Br Stacking for Boosting Photocatalytic Molecular Oxygen Activation

Novel graphene-like boron nitride(BN)/Bi_(3)O_(4)Br photocatalysts have been controllably synthesized through a facile solvothermal method for the first time. Layer contact stacking between graphene-like BN and ultrathin Bi_(3)O_(4)Br was achieved with strong interaction. Dehalogenation is designed to harvest more visible light, and the ultrathin structure of Bi_(3)O_(4)Br is designed to accelerate charge transfer from inside to the surface. After graphene-like BN was engineered, photocatalytic performance greatly improved under visible light irradiation. Graphene-like BN can act as a surface electron-withdrawing center and adsorption center, facilitating molecular oxygen activation. O_(2)^(·-)was determined to be the main active species during the degradation process through analyses of electron spin resonance and XPS valence band spectra.

Effect of carrier and axial ligand on the photocatalytic activity of cobalt thioporphyrazine

The photocatalytic activity of cobalt octakis（butylthio） porphyrazine（CoPz（BuS）8） was assessed through photodegradation of the dye rhodamine B（RhB） in water under irradiation with a Xe lamp and aerated conditions.The photocatalytic activity of CoPz（BuS）8 loaded on Al2O3 or SiO2@Fe3O4nanoparticles or coordinated with an axial azide ligand was also investigated.The results demonstrated that the photocatalytic activity of CoPz（BuS）8 loaded on Al2O3 was higher than that loaded on SiO2@Fe3O4.The kinetic curves of RhB degradation in aqueous solutions at different pH indicated the pseudo first-order kinetics of the reaction.The highest degradation rate for CoPz（BuS）8 loaded Al2O3 at pH = 4 after 160 min was 84.6%.However,the advantages of easier separation and recycling as well as the ability to terminate the reaction at any time for the CoPz（BuS）8 loaded SiO2@Fe3O4 cannot be ignored.When electron-rich NaN3 was coordinated with CoPz（BuS）8 as an axial ligand and loaded on Al2O3,the resulting catalyst produced more active oxygen species such as O2^- and HO· to promote the quicker degradation of RhB than that by the other catalysts.For the N3-coordinated CoPz（BuS）8 loaded on Al2O3,the reactions at pH = 4 and 7 distinctly deviated from first-order kinetics,and the degradation rate reached 77.6%after 80 min at pH = 4.

Accurate design of spatially separated double active site in Bi_(4)NbO_(8)Cl single crystal to promote Z-Scheme photocatalytic overall water splitting

The efficiency of photocatalytic overall water splitting was mainly limited by the slow reaction kinetics of water oxidation.How to design effective surface active site to overcome the slow water oxidation reaction was a major challenge.Here,we propose a strategy to accelerate surface water oxidation through the fabrication spatially separated double active sites.FeCoPi/Bi_(4)NbO_(8)Cl-OVs photocatalyst with spatially separated double active site was prepared by hydrogen reduction photoanode deposition method.Due to the high matching of the spatial loading positions of FeCoPi and OVs with the photogenerated charge distribution of Bi_(4)NbO_(8)Cl and corresponding reaction mechanisms of substrate,the FeCoPi and OVs on the(001)and(010)crystal planes of Bi_(4)NbO_(8)Cl photocatalyst provided surface active site for water oxidation reaction and electron shuttle reaction(Fe^(3+)/Fe^(2+)),respectively.Under visible light irradiation,the evolution O_(2)rate of FeCoPi/Bi_(4)NbO_(8)Cl OVs was 16.8μmol h^(-1),as 32.9 times as Bi_(4)NbO_(8)Cl.Furthermore,a hydrogen evolution co-catalyst PtRu@Cr_(2)O_(3)was prepared by sequential photodeposition method.Due to the introduction of Ru,the Schottky barrier between PbTiO_(3)and Pt was effectively reduced,which promoted the transfer of photogenerated electrons to PtRu@Cr_(2)O_(3)thermodynamically,the evolution H_(2)rate on PtRu@Cr_(2)O_(3)/PbTiO_(3)increased to 664.8 times.On based of the synchronous enhancement of the water oxidation performance on FeCoPi/Bi_(4)NbO_(8)Cl-OVs and water reduction performance on PtRu@Cr_(2)O_(3)/PbTiO_(3),a novel Z-Scheme photocatalytic overall water splitting system(FeCoPi/Bi_(4)NbO_(8)Cl-OVs)mediated by Fe^(3+)/Fe^(2+)had successfully constructed.Under visible light irradiation,the evolution rates of H_(2)and O_(2)were 2.5 and 1.3μmol h^(-1),respectively.This work can provide some reference for the design of active site and the controllable synthesis of OVs spatial position.On the other hand,the hydrogen evolution co catalyst(PtRu@Cr_(2)O_(3))and the co catalyst FeCoPi for oxygen evolution contributed to the construction of an overall water splitting system.