Photocatalytic Degradation Of Toluene Research Articles

Efficient Spatial Charge Separation and Transfer in SrTiO3 Nanospheres Modified with Ag2O as a Co-Catalyst for Superior Visible Light-Driven Photocatalytic Degradation of Toluene

Efficient Spatial Charge Separation and Transfer in SrTiO3 Nanospheres Modified with Ag2O as a Co-Catalyst for Superior Visible Light-Driven Photocatalytic Degradation of Toluene

Construction of S/g-C3N4@β-Bi2O3 heterojunction and its photocatalytic degradation of toluene in the gas phase.

In this paper, a modification of g-C3N4 was carried out by combining non-metal doping with the construction of heterojunctions, and a type II heterojunction composite, S/g-C3N4@β-Bi2O3, was prepared. The phase structure, morphology, elemental composition, valence band structure, and light absorption performance of the photocatalyst were analyzed using characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS). The performance of the composite photocatalyst in the photocatalytic degradation of gaseous toluene, one of the typical volatile organic compounds (VOCs), under simulated solar light was studied. The effects of preparation conditions, toluene concentration, and recycling on the photocatalytic performance of the composite photocatalyst were investigated. The results show that under the optimal preparation conditions, S/g-C3N4@β-Bi2O3 achieved a degradation efficiency of 74.0% for 5ppm toluene after 5h of light irradiation. Although the degradation efficiency decreased to 61.2% after five cycles, it maintained 83% of its initial activity, indicating good stability of the composite photocatalyst. Free radical quenching experiments demonstrated that h+ was the main active species in the photocatalytic degradation of toluene, followed by ·O2-. Based on all experimental results, the migration law of photo-generated charges was analyzed, and a possible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed. In this study, a new material was obtained for the photocatalytic removal of VOCs by improving the photocatalytic properties of g-C3N4.

Transition metal in-situ doped BiOBr: Introducing oxygen vacancies to enhance hydroxyl radical generation for improved photocatalytic degradation of toluene

Photocatalytic oxidation for the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is one of the most effective and environmentally friendly means, and hydroxyl radicals with strong oxidation ability play an important role in the photocatalytic degradation of VOCs. In this paper, by selecting different transition metals (M=Co, Ni, Cu, Fe) for in situ doping modification of layered bismuth bromide oxide (BiOBr). It was found that among the catalysts Co-doped BiOBr had the highest photocatalytic degradation efficiency and mineralization rate (with 81.7 % and 64.0 %, respectively), and were significantly higher than those of BiOBr (with 51.4 % and 19.4 %, respectively). Experimental results and theoretical calculations confirmed that transition metal in situ doping modification can induce the generation of oxygen vacancy defects, while being more favorable to the adsorption and activation of H2O molecules, which leaded to the generation of a large number of hydroxyl radicals with stronger oxidative capacity and achieved the efficient photocatalytic degradation of toluene.

Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of toluene on surface C- and CN-modified TiO2 microspheres

Surface modified TiO2 materials are widely used in photocatalytic environmental purification processes. The employment of solution might exert a discernible influence on the catalyst. In this study, we incorporated tetrahydrofuran (THF) and pyrrolidine (PY) during the hydrolysis of titanium butoxide (TBOT) to modify the surface of TiO2, successfully synthesizing surface C-modified TiO2 (THF-TiO2) and surface CN-modified TiO2 (PY-TiO2) catalysts. The assistance of THF and PY not only reduced agglomeration, but also increased the specific surface area of both catalysts, leading to the exposure of more active sites in TiO2 during the photocatalytic degradation of toluene. When compared to the unsatisfactory degradation of toluene (80%) and CO2 mineralization efficiencies (40–45 %) observed using unmodified TiO2, the synthesized THF-50-TiO2 and PY-1-TiO2 microspheres demonstrated enhanced toluene degradation efficiency to 100 % and 99.8 %, respectively, and improved mineralization efficiencies to 76 % and 80 % after 120 min of ultraviolet irradiation. The experimental data and characterization results indicate that the surface-modified carbon species in THF-50-TiO2 facilitate the acceleration of electron-hole pair separation and suppress recombination. In contrast, partial nitrogen species introduced into the surface lattice of PY-1-TiO2 narrow its band gap and induce a visible light response. Overall, this study provides two methods to modify the surface of TiO2, which can be applied to prepare outstanding photocatalysts for possible application in the degradation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the air. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that solution have a significant impact on the catalyst.

Plasma-induced surface interactions of Pd/SrTiO3 catalyst for improved performance of photocatalytic degradation of toluene

Defective engineering and the addition of noble metal are effective strategies to realize the high photocatalytic performance of SrTiO3 perovskite. Here, the Pd/SrTiO3 catalyst was successfully prepared by the low-temperature plasma treatment coupling with photochemical deposition of metal Pd, which was applied to the photocatalytic degradation of toluene. Compared with single STO, STON, and Pd-STO catalysts, the prepared Pd-STON catalyst shows the excellent UV photocatalytic performance toward toluene degradation, realizing a ca.80 % degradation efficiency within 90 min reaction time. Based on various characterizations, it revealed that plasma treatment promoted the formation of surface oxygen defects, and strengthened the metal-support interaction. The resultant surface oxygen vacancy accelerated the migration rate of photogenerated electrons and the separation of electrons and holes in space, benefiting for superior performance. It is expected that this study can provide new avenues for the rational design of highly efficient photocatalysts for potential practical applications.

Rapidly photocatalytic degradation of toluene boosted by plasmonic effect and Schottky junction on Pt nanoparticles engineered self-supporting Cu2O nanowires

Photocatalytic degradation indoor toluene is one of the most environment-compatible strategies for manufacturing advanced air purifiers. A novel self-supporting photocatalysts, Pt/Cu2O nanowires growing from Cu mesh were constructed using energy-saving methods. The 5 nm Pt nanoparticles are well dispersed on Cu2O, establishing intimate Pt/Cu2O Schottky junction that curtails electron-hole recombination. Additionally, Pt nanoparticles contribute a plasmonic heating effect and an oscillating electric field for accelerating the photocatalytic rates and enhancing overall catalytic activity. By virtue of the Pt/Cu2O Schottky junction and plasmonic effect of the Pt nanoparticles, toluene is efficiently mineralized into CO2 and H2O. The optimal Pt/Cu2O catalyst achieve a toluene elimination rate of 93.65%, with the mineralization degree high up to 92.23%. This study confirms the practicability of the self-supporting Pt/Cu2O catalyst, which figures out new ideas for designing high-performance photocatalyst for removing typical and toxic volatile organic compounds.

Enhanced mineralization capacity for photocatalytic toluene degradation over Ag3PO4/TiO2: the critical role of oxygen vacancy

Mesoporous disk-like Ag3PO4/TiO2 heterojunctions with rich oxygen vacancies using MIL-125(Ti)-derived TiO2 as support were prepared for photocatalytic degradation toward toluene. The low amount of Ag3PO4 into Ag3PO4/TiO2-10 (1.7 wt% Ag3PO4) greatly improved the toluene mineralization capacity up to 95 %, which was much higher than that of the TiO2 alone (41.3 %). In-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) directly verified that the benzene ring was opened rapidly by the Ag3PO4/TiO2-10, while intermediate (like benzaldehyde and benzoic acid) accumulation occurred using pristine TiO2 as photocatalyst. It was demonstrated that Z-scheme heterojunction was formed between Ag3PO4 and TiO2, in which the photo-induced electrons were transferred from conduction band (CB) of the Ag3PO4 to valence band (VB) of the TiO2 under photoexcitation, boosting the generation of reactive oxygen species and inhibiting the photocorrosion of Ag3PO4. Interestingly, quantitative structure-activity relationship suggested that oxygen vacancies as crucial active sites both activated molecular oxygen and captured the photo-induced electrons to form •O2− that dominated in toluene mineralization. This work proved that the construction of Z-scheme heterojunction between MIL-125(Ti)-derived TiO2 and Ag3PO4 solved the inactivation of TiO2 and photocorrosion of Ag3PO4 in photocatalysis, highlighting the role of oxygen vacancy in determining the active species and mineralization degree for photocatalytic toluene elimination.

Spatial interfacial heterojunctions of TiO2 for photocatalytic degradation of toluene: Effects of interface amorphous region and oxygen vacancy

The catalytic activity of TiO2 is contingent upon its crystal structure and the optoelectronic properties associated with defects. In this study, a one-step method was used to synthesize TiO2 with a spatial interface of rutile/anatase phases, and a simple thermal annealing process was applied to optimize the amorphous regions and oxygen vacancies at the interface between the rutile and anatase phases of TiO2. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) elucidates the evolution process of the amorphous domain at the interface, skillfully introducing oxygen vacancies at the heterojunction interface by modulating the amorphous domain. The obtained photocatalyst (TiO2–350 °C) after annealing exhibits an optimal interface structure, with its photocatalytic activity and stability in degrading toluene far superior to P25. Photocurrent and photoluminescence (PL) measurements affirm that the existence of interfacial oxygen vacancies heightens the efficiency of electron transfer at the interface, while surface oxygen vacancies significantly enhance the stability and mineralization rate of toluene degradation. The improved photocatalytic properties were attributed to the combined effects of surface/interface oxygen vacancies and spatial interface heterojunctions. The one-step synthesis method developed in this work provides a novel perspective on combining spatially interfaced anatase/rutile phases with surface/interfacial oxygen vacancies.

Enhancing air treatment through controlled fabrication of transition metal-doped titanium dioxide nanocomposites for photocatalytic toluene degradation

Rapid industrial growth and urbanization have resulted in a significant rise in environmental pollution issues, particularly indoor air pollutants. As a result, it is crucial to design and develop technologies and/or catalysts that are not only cost-effective but also promising high performance and practical applicability. However, achieving this goal has been so far remained a challenging task. Herein, a series of transition metal M − TiO2 (M = W, Fe, Mn) nanocrystals was prepared for photocatalytic degradation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), i.e., toluene. Of the nanocomposites tested, W–TiO2 showed significantly improved photocatalytic activity for VOC degradation under UV irradiation compared to the others. In particular, the optimized W dopant amount of 0.5 wt% resulted in the outstanding degradation performance of toluene (96%) for the obtained W–TiO2(0.5%) nanocomposite. Moreover, W–TiO2(0.5%) nanocomposite exhibited good stability for 32 h working under high toluene concentration (10 ppm) compared to the pristine TiO2. The current work demonstrates the potential usage of M − TiO2 nanocrystals, particularly W–TiO2(0.5%), as a promising photocatalyst for efficient VOCs degradation.

Transient photocatalytic oxidation of toluene vapor via nanostructured layers prepared by sol-gel on anatase particles

Gas-phase photocatalytic degradation of toluene mixed with wet oxygen was performed in a continuous reactor using anatase nanoparticles, home-prepared by the sol-gel method combined with peptization treatments. Titanium (IV) isopropoxide was used to synthesize amorphous titania precursor, partially transformed into crystalline nanoparticles by hydrothermal or thermal treatments. The main oxidation product was carbon dioxide, but traces of benzene and benzoic acid were also detected. In order to characterize the catalysts, the evolution of titanium (IV) alkoxide to form anatase nanoparticles was studied using 1H-MAS NMR, EPR, TPD, and FTIR techniques. The results indicate that the four coordinated Ti4+ cations of the alkoxide induce the formation of amorphous aggregates of polymeric layers. The organics removal by peptization originates thin nanostructured titania layers that cover anatase particles, forming TiO2 homojunction. Photoactivity runs showed that both toluene retention and mineralization occurred at the start of irradiation, both processes exhibiting a long transient. After different times, retention stopped while mineralization reached steady-state conditions. Hydrated proton structures are considered to be the origin of both processes. Under irradiation, water photodesorption from these structures favors both the interaction of nanostructured layers with anatase particles, determining hole transfer to external surfaces and the generation of hydrated hydronium cations which, depending on the water loss, are centers able to carry out toluene mineralization or retention. After the mineralization step, photocatalytic centers must be reconstituted by recovering water, a process whose rate becomes the rate-determining one.

Hydrophobic fluorine-doped carbon-wrapped TiO2 particles as efficient and stable photocatalysts for gaseous toluene degradation

Moisture-resistant TiO2-based catalysts with high activity and stability are urgently needed to satisfy requirements for the treatment of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In this work, a novel hydrophobic F-doped carbon-wrapped TiO2 catalyst (TiO2 @HFC) was synthesized by a facile method and used for the photocatalytic degradation of toluene. TiO2 @HFC displays significantly higher activity under UV/Vis irradiation than commercial P25 TiO2, and remains stable after six cycles. The removal efficiency of toluene was 81.7% after 210 min of reaction, corresponding to a mineralization efficiency of 74.5%. Benefiting from the hydrophobic F-doped carbon layer modification, the incorporation of F into TiO2 crystals, and increased Ti3+ content, TiO2 @HFC is characterized by efficient separation and utilization of photoexcited charge carriers, enhanced adsorption of toluene, and robust resistance towards water vapor. This work demonstrates the potential application of the TiO2-based photocatalyst to efficiently remove VOCs in a humid environment.

Energy band matching Bi2WO6/black-TiO2 Z-scheme heterostructure for the enhanced visible-light photocatalytic degradation of toluene

By exploiting the distinct band alignment characteristics of various semiconductors, the Z-scheme heterostructure represents a significant method to improve the effectiveness of energy conversion processes. In this work, Bi2WO6/Black-TiO2 (BTB) compounds are developed using the hydrothermal method combined with sol-gel method. It is shown that the separation efficiency of photoinduced carriers on BTB is visibly raised via establishing a Z-scheme system with matched energy band structures. The surface carrier separation efficiency is closely related to photocatalytic activity. Under visible light, the degrading performance of toluene over BTB heterostructure is found to be markedly enhanced. BTB-3 exhibits the optimal photocatalytic activity of the group, achieving a toluene conversion of 90% after 120 min reaction, which is twice and 5.5 times larger than that of B-TiO2 and Bi2WO6, respectively. Furthermore, developing of BTB Z-scheme heterostructure can preserve the catalyst's initial redox capacity, thereby producing more significant active species, e.g., ·OH and ·O2−radicals, to efficiently decompose toluene. According to in-situ DRIFTS data, acids, aldehydes and alcohols are among the intermediates that are collected during various stages of toluene's photocatalytic breakdown. This work supplies a fresh, workable route for future photocatalytic volatile organic compounds degradation.

Continuous near-complete photocatalytic degradation of toluene by V/N-doped TiO2 loaded on honeycomb ceramics under UV irradiation

Photocatalytic degradation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is a significant applying aspect of photocatalysis. Both the modulation of photocatalysts and the rational dispersion of them on supports are key for solar-driven VOC degradation. Conventional batch-type photoreactors have low efficiency while continuous-flow photoreactors suffer from the problem of incomplete removal of VOCs. Herein, aiming for continuous and complete degradation of toluene gas as the target contaminant, continuous-flow photocatalytic degradation reactors were made by adhering the vanadium and nitrogen codoped TiO2 on honeycomb ceramics (V/N-TiO2@HC) by a simple sol-gel method. In such a reactor, the rich ordered pores in the HC accelerate mass transport of toluene, and the introduction of V/N dopants narrows the bandgap and widens the light absorption range of TiO2, together resulting in continuous and nearly-complete photocatalytic degradation of toluene. The unique and stable structure of HC allows the photocatalysts to be reused. The degradation rate of toluene gas can reach 97.8%, and after 24 rounds of photocatalytic degradation, there is still a degradation rate of 96.7%. The impacts of loading times and gaseous flow rate on the photocatalytic performance of V/N-TiO2@HC are studied in detail. Our study provides a practical solution for the continuous and complete photocatalytic degradation of VOCs and opens a new application field for HC.

Study on the regulation of BiOCl and its mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of toluene

The use of green photocatalytic technology to remove low-concentration organic waste gas has piqued the interest of many people in recent years, and it is expected to be used to solve the problem of disorganized emission of low-concentration waste gas on the factory floor due to its wide range of applications and high catalytic efficiency. To this end, this paper firstly explores and simulates the unorganized emission scenario of toluene from low-concentration organic waste gas in the factory floor; secondly, it investigates the effect of BiOCl photocatalysts obtained by crystal surface modulation and morphology modulation on the performance of photocatalytic degradation of toluene, and in this process, the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of toluene is explored by combining material characterization analysis and theoretical analysis. Finally, it was concluded as follows: the BiOCl −010 sample prepared by crystal surface modulation was the optimal catalyst with 94.8% degradation rate of toluene in 120 min. The cyclic experiments and characterization analysis means proved that the catalytic activity of the reacted sample was slightly enhanced while maintaining stability, attributed to the generation of oxygen vacancies. Oxygen vacancies, as defects, can become the center for capturing photogenerated electrons and improve the separation efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes, thus enhancing the photocatalytic activity. Combined with the radical capture experiments and GC/MS analysis, the main pathway of toluene degradation in the course of photocatalytic reaction was deduced, i.e., toluene → benzene → ring-opening products → short chain-like compounds → carbon dioxide + water.

Health and Carcinogenic Risk Assessment of Exposure to by-Products of Photocatalytic Degradation of Toluene in a Spouted Bed Reactor with Porous and Non-Porous Draft Tube.

This study was performed to assessment the health and carcinogenic risk of exposure to by-products of photocatalytic degradation of toluene in a spouted bed reactor Equipped with porous and non-porous draft tube. For this purpose, titanium dioxide nanoparticles were used as photocatalysts and UV lamps as radiation sources. Degradation efficiency and CO2 selectivity were compared. By-products were also detected in three spouted bed reactors with and without a porous and non-porous draft tube. The results revealed that the degradation efficiency of toluene in the spouted bed reactor without a draft tube was 30.75%. The insertion of porous and non-porous draft tubes in the spouted bed reactor increased the degradation efficiency up to 54.88% and 47.63%, respectively. Meantime, CO2 selectivity decreased from 100% to 50.8% within 180 min irradiation time in the spouted bed reactor without draft tube, while in the spouted bed reactors with porous and non-porous draft tube maintained at 89.85% and 84.35%, respectively. Toluene and four by-products with carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk of 0.002176 and 182.2, respectively, were detected in the spouted bed reactors without draft tube. However, no by-products with carcinogenic risk were found in the spouted bed reactor with porous and non-porous draft tube. photocatalytic degradation of toluene in a spouted bed reactor without a draft tube produces by-products with health and carcinogenic risks. The insertion of a porous and non-porous draft tube in spouted bed reactors provided mineralization more complete than spouted bed reactor without a draft tube by reducing the dead zone and providing appropriate contact between the toluene, photocatalyst, and UV. Therefore, prevent the formation of dangerous and carcinogenic by-products.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Toluene (Component of Crude Oil) Contaminated Water Using Titanium Dioxide Based Catalyst: A Review

Petroleum industry is one of the fastest growing industry in the world, and it contributes significantly to the profitable development in unindustrialized countries. The wastewater from a petroleum industry consist a wide variety of pollutants like petroleum hydrocarbons, mercaptans, oil and grease, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, phenol, ammonia, sulphide and other organic compounds etc. All these compounds are present as very complex form in discharged water of petroleum industry, which are harmful to the environment and human health directly or indirectly. Pollution of soil-water interface due to the release of hydrocarbons in environment is a major public health concern, and therefore, remediation of these pollutants is needed to reduce risk to human and environment. Various methods such as physical, chemical, biological, and Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) methods are used to degrade these pollutants from wastewater. The conventional remediation methods can only change the phase of contaminants without destroying them, thereby leading to another pollution problem. This review paper highlights some current treatment methods of toluene contaminated water, and to introduce a proposed method that sought to develop an oleophilic and hydrophobic composite catalyst (ESA-TiO2-FeS2-Kenaf), that would harvest the toluene content, and simultaneously degrade the harvested toluene content using solar light as the energy source.

Effect of bridging hydroxyl on the interfacial charge transfer for photocatalytic degradation of toluene

The mechanism of charge transfer to reactants during photocatalytic degradation of volatile organic compounds remains unclear. Herein, TiO2 was heated in a hydrogen atmosphere to increase the content of bridging hydroxyl (OHB), and atmosphere surface photovoltage spectroscopy (ASPV) was used to study the effect of changed surface sites on the transfer of photogenerated charge carriers to reactants (O2, H2O, and toluene). Results showed that the removal rate and mineralization efficiency of toluene were improved after hydrogen treatment. The ASPV tests found that hydrogen treatment created electron transfer channels to O2 and hole transfer channels to toluene/water, and reduced H2O’s interference with electron utilization by O2. Hydrogen in the newly formed OHB changed the electron distribution on the TiO2 surface by injecting electrons. The OHB and surrounding Ti4−x ions altered the adsorption form of H2O, thereby facilitating the transfer of electrons to O2 and holes to toluene.

Constructing ZnSn(OH)6/SrSn(OH)6 perovskite-structured hydroxide heterojunction to enhance photocatalytic degradation of toluene

A ZnSn(OH)6/SrSn(OH)6 perovskite-structured hydroxide heterojunction was constructed by a simple one-pot hydrothermal method and applied to degrade toluene under UV light. The optimal sample 20% ZnSn(OH)6/SrSn(OH)6 heterojunction (named 20% ZSH/SSH) exhibits a toluene degradation rate of 86.55%, which is 26.34% and 20.13% higher than that of SrSn(OH)6 and ZnSn(OH)6 for 30 min, respectively. The ESR shows that ·OH and ·O2− generated in the SrSn(OH)6/ZnSn(OH)6 system acted as the main reactive radical to induce the degradation of toluene. Moreover, the degradation process of toluene was also investigated by In-situ DRIFTS, which demonstrates a pathway that ZnSn(OH)6/SrSn(OH)6 could promote the conversion of toluene to benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, benzoic acid, and then mineralized to H2O and CO2. This work offers a promising approach for building perovskite-structured hydroxide heterojunction by a simple one-pot hydrothermal method to improve photocatalytic performance for reducing indoor air contamination.

New LED photoreactor with modulated UV–vis light source for efficient degradation of toluene over WO3/TiO2 photocatalyst

The efficiencies of prepared WO3/TiO2 photocatalysts with varying amounts of WO3 were evaluated for gas-phase photocatalytic degradation of toluene. The obtained results revealed that the best photocatalytic properties were characteristic for samples calcined at 500C, which can be associated with high crystalline phase content (>97%) and favourable BET surface area.The photocatalytic degradation tests were performed in two photoreactors equipped with different LED arrays as light sources – a flat circular reactor and a scaled-up batch photoreactor. In the first photoreactor, experiments performed under UV light (375 nm) revealed a negligible effect of WO3 content in the range of 0.1–3% mol on the photocatalytic activity. 1–hour irradiation contributed to around 99% elimination of toluene. Higher WO3 content (5% mol WO3) affected a 10% reduction in toluene removal. Furthermore, toluene degradation was performed in a scaled-up LED batch photoreactor equipped with modulated irradiation source consisting of a set of LEDs with wavelengths of 365 nm, 400 nm, and 450 nm appropriately selected for the photocatalytic material optical properties. The processes performed in a scaled-up photoreactor with a volume of 1 dm3 in the presence of a sample containing 2 mol% of WO3 showed above 80% effectiveness in toluene degradation after only 30 min of irradiation.

A polydiacetylene-based smart cellulose aerogel functionalized by ZnO/MoS2 heterojunction for simultaneous visual detection and photocatalytic degradation of gaseous VOCs

The integration of visual detection and degradation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is greatly desired for addressing ever-growing environmental problems. Herein, a chemically cross-linked cellulose aerogel is explored as substrate material, combing with ZIF-8/MoS2 derived 2D ZnO/MoS2 heterojunction. Then polydiacetylene (PDA) was self-assembled on the aerogel via topochemical polymerization to obtain a smart gas sensing and eliminating hybrid aerogel (PZMCA) with high porosity (>96%). The intrinsic stimulate responsiveness and the flower-like hierarchical structure of PDA contributed to a sensitive and fast color response to gaseous toluene with 10 s. Moreover, by regulating the mass ratio of ZnO and MoS2, the PZMCA presented enhanced photocatalytic ability for toluene (97% of degradation efficiency with 180 min) under solar light irradiation. GC-MS reveals the possible mechanism and pathway of the photocatalytic degradation of toluene. The robust, uniform, versatile and functional aerogels could hopefully provide practical applications in VOCs detection and photocatalytic degradation.