Abstract
Novel V2O5 bifunctional photocatalysts were prepared following a wet chemical process with the addition of anionic or non-ionic surfactants into the precursor solution and further heating under reflux. Detailed characterization and investigation of the relevant light-matter interactions proved that surfactants addition had a strong impact on the morphology, while also affecting the crystallinity, the optoelectronic properties, and the surface chemistry of the novel photocatalysts. The most efficient photocatalyst (T80) was based on tween 80, a surface-active agent employed for the first time in the synthesis of vanadium oxide materials. T80 presented crystalline nature without structural defects, which are usually centers of e− − h+ recombination. This material also exhibited small crystal size, high porosity, and short migration paths for the charge carriers, enabling their effective separation during photocatalysis. Under UV light illumination, T80 was capable to reduce hexavalent chromium to trivalent up to 70% and showed high yields in degrading methylene blue azo-dye and tetracycline antibiotic water pollutants. This remarkably high bifunctional performance defines T80 as a promising and capable photocatalytic material for both advanced oxidation and reduction processes (AOPs-ARPs).
Highlights
Industrial water always contains organic-inorganic pollutants of toxic and carcinogenic character.Because of their high solubility and stability, hexavalent chromium ions are among the major distinctively dangerous pollutants existing in wastewaters
The photocatalysts were synthesized under a convenient wet chemistry process as described in the literature [13], following a slight modification
In a typical synthesis, 3.4 g of NH4 VO3 were dissolved in a 1:1 ethanol:H2 O mixture in the presence of appropriate quantities of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), Triton X-100 (T100) or T80 surfactants
Summary
Industrial water always contains organic-inorganic pollutants of toxic and carcinogenic character. Because of their high solubility and stability, hexavalent chromium ions are among the major distinctively dangerous pollutants existing in wastewaters. Artificial organic molecules (including dyes and antibiotics) that are generally used in our daily life and are discharged into water systems without actual treatment can cause water pollution [1,2,3,4]. As the need for clean water continues to be prominent around the world, there is increased interest in efficient photocatalysts. These materials can be activated using solar energy for the purpose of pollutant removal through oxidation or reduction [5]. TiO2 has been at the forefront of photocatalysis research since 1964 [6]
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