Photocatalytic Oxidation Performance Research Articles

Remarkable improvement in photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4 for NO oxidation through surface hydroxylation

The nitrogen oxide emissions originating from combustion pose significant risks to the environment. Photocatalysis is considered an efficient and environmentally friendly strategy to alleviate this problem. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is regarded as one of the most promising organic photocatalytic materials for environmental purification. However, its small specific surface area, weak adsorption and high recombination rate of charge carriers result in low intrinsic photocatalytic activity. To overcome these obstacles, a hydrothermal treatment of dicyandiamide-derived g-C3N4 (DCN) at different temperatures (140–200 °C) was employed to enhance the photocatalytic activity for NO oxidation. The experimental results demonstrated a significant improvement in the photocatalytic oxidation removal rate of NO after a hydrothermal treatment. The optimal photocatalyst, DCN-180, treated at 180 °C, demonstrated the highest NO removal efficiency (65.0 %), which is twice the value of pristine DCN (32.5 %). Additionally, the formation of the toxic intermediate NO2 was effectively suppressed during the reaction. Photoelectrochemical tests revealed that DCN-180 exhibited higher photocurrent density and smaller impedance radius compared to the untreated g-C3N4 sample. Moreover, density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed that the DCN-180 sample showed a stronger ability to adsorb O2 and NO. The enhanced photocatalytic NO oxidation performance of DCN-180 has been primarily attributed to its enlarged specific surface area (from 10.7 to 35.5 m2 g−1), local polarization effect, reduced interfacial charge transfer resistance, and improved adsorption abilities for NO and O2 molecules. This study provides valuable insights for designing and preparing highly efficient g-C3N4 based photocatalysts through surface modification for photocatalytic NO purification.

The practical utility of nitrogen doped TiO2 as a photocatalyst for the oxidative removal of gaseous formaldehyde

This study reports the oxidation/mineralization of formaldehyde (FA), a well-known hazardous volatile organic compound (VOC), using TiO2 doped with nitrogen (N-TiO2: N/Ti molar ratio=1) to improve its photoelectronic properties. The prepared N-TiO2 photocatalyst is deposited over ceramic beads and placed in a packed-bed tube reactor to induce the photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) of FA under the following conditions [FA concentration (100–500 ppm), flow rate (100–500 mL min-1), O2 (0–21%), relative humidity (RH: 0–100%), and ultraviolet (UV)-A illumination (32 W light source)]. The PCO performance in dry conditions shows 100% degradation of 100 ppm FA at a flow rate of 100 mL min-1 and a 21% O2 level (quantum yield = 1.72.E-02 molecules photon-1 and space time yield = 3.44.E-03 molecules photon-1 mg-1). The superior performance of N-TiO2 should be attributable to its enhanced light reactivity with lower bandgap energy (3.10 eV) and longer charge carrier life time (1.34 ns) relative to P25 (3.25 eV and 1.04 ns) and pure (anatase) TiO2 (3.25 eV and 1 ns). The photocatalytic activation of N-TiO2 is optimized in slightly humid conditions (RH 20%). In situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance studies confirm the critical role of O2 and H2O vapor on the enhanced FA mineralization rate (CO2 yield = 91%) through the generation of O2/OH oxidative radicals. This study offers deep insights into the practical utility of N-TiO2 for the photocatalytic mineralization of aldehyde VOCs.

Epitaxial growth of Bi4Ti3O12-BiPO4 Z-scheme heterojunction to promote carrier transfer for photocatalytic oxidation of NO

The lack of compactness in heterojunction interfaces and poor charge separation is a great challenge in developing high-efficiency heterojunction photocatalysts. Herein, a novel Bi4Ti3O12-BiPO4 heterojunction was successfully prepared for the first time by epitaxial growth of BiPO4 on the surface of Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets. The optimized Bi4Ti3O12-BiPO4-0.5 increased the NO oxidation efficiency to 73.05%, surpassing pure Bi4Ti3O12 (63.45%) and BiPO4 (8.35%). Experiments and theoretical calculations indicated that the closely contacted heterointerface between BTO and BPO promoted the generation of the built-in electric field, which led to the formation of the Z- scheme transfer pathway for the photogenerated carriers. Therefore, the separation of photogenerated carriers was facilitated while retaining high redox potential, generating more ·O2– and ·OH to participate in NO oxidation. Furthermore, the adsorption of NO and O2 was enhanced by introducing BiPO4, further improving the photocatalytic NO oxidation performance. This work emphasizes the critical role of heterointerface in accelerating charge transfer, providing a basis for the design and construction of tightly contacted heterojunction photocatalysts.

Unveiling Synergetic Photocatalytic Activity from Heterometallic Ti/Ce Clusters.

Titanium-oxo clusters, with their robust structure and suitable optical and electronic properties, have been widely investigated as photocatalysts. Heterometallic Ti/M-oxo clusters provide additional tunability and functionality, which enable systematic structure-activity investigations to elucidate the reaction mechanisms and improve the catalyst design. Incorporating cerium into Ti-oxo clusters can provide additional redox (CeIV/CeIII) and oxygen harvesting ability, but to date, only a limited number of structurally defined titanium-cerium (Ti/Ce) clusters have been reported due to their synthetic challenges. Herein, we report the synthesis and photocatalytic properties of two structurally defined Ti/Ce-oxo clusters, Ti8Ce2(BA)16 and Ti9Ce4(BA)20, as well as a TiCe-BA cluster with a calculated formula of Ti20Ce9O36(BA)42. Photocatalytic study of these clusters demonstrates that the amount of Ce3+ species greatly impacts its photocatalytic oxidation performance, and their superior photocatalytic reactivity toward aerobic alcohol oxidation can be contributed to the synergistic effects of the multiple radical species generated upon light absorption. This work represents a significant milestone in the construction of stable Ti/Ce-oxo clusters, enriching the current library of known heterometallic Ti/M-oxo clusters, and providing a series of crystalline materials with great promise of photoluminescence and photovoltaic chemistry.

Construction of a Dual-Function Mo-ZIS@Ti for Photocatalytic Benzyl Alcohol Oxidation and Hydrogen Evolution Performance.

The photocatalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohol and the simultaneous evolution of hydrogen from water are efficient dual-optimal routes. It is important to develop composite catalysts that combine redox properties and facilitate electron-hole separation and transport. Herein, the bimetallic-doped Mo-ZIS@Ti photocatalyst was designed and synthesized, and the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol and hydrogen evolution by water splitting was realized at the same time. Under visible light irradiation, benzyl alcohol was completely converted with more than 99% selectivity for benzaldehyde, and the H2 production rate was 5.6 times higher than the initial ZIS. The exceptional catalytic performance was ascribed to utilizing Ti-MIL-125 as a precursor, wherein slowly releasing-doped Ti formed robust Ti-S bonds that quickly transfer electrons and reduce sites. Meanwhile, doping Mo effectively captures photogenerated holes and acts as active sites for oxidation reactions. Both experimental characterization and work function calculations demonstrate that the bimetallic synergism effectively modulates the electronic structure of ZIS, promotes the directional separation of electrons and holes, and significantly improves the photoactivity and stability of ZIS. This work contributes a route to obtain benzaldehyde and green hydrogen at the same time and also gives new insights for the construction and mechanism study of bimetallic-doping catalysts.

Derivatives of Br-doped metal-organic framework for improved acetaldehyde adsorption-photocatalytic oxidation

Different Br-doped metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) derived (Brx@UiO-66) have been prepared by heat treatment using UiO-66 as the precursor. The experimental results showed that Br0.2@UiO-66 exhibited the best photocatalytic oxidation and adsorption performances toward acetaldehyde. In the dynamic system, the acetaldehyde removal rate and adsorption capacity of Br0.2@UiO-66 were 93.2 % and 230.59 mg/g, respectively. The improvement of the photocatalytic performance can be attributed to the presence of Br ions and CBr bonds, which facilitated the rapid separation of electrons and holes and the production of •O2−. In addition, Br0.2@UiO-66 had a better adsorption performance than 300UiO-66, mainly because of the increased Lewis acidity of the metal active sites due to Br doping. Radical capture experiments indicated that •O2− and e- were the primary active substances in acetaldehyde oxidation, and allowed establishing the possible mechanism of acetaldehyde oxidation. This work shows that MOFs can have high catalytic oxidation performances toward volatile organic compounds (VOCs) while retaining their adsorption capacity, and can be used for practical applications in the adsorption-catalytic integrated degradation of VOCs.

Enhancement of photocatalytic NO oxidation by Ag-sulfide on TiO2 mixed with Na-ZSM-5

Enhancing NO oxidation performance is pivotal for integrating photocatalysts with wet scrubbers in continuous flow systems. Despite the recent development of various catalysts, such as MOFs, our goal was to simplify the composition by using photocatalyst + zeolite catalyst, bringing us closer to a catalyst that can be practically applied. In this study, we have utilized Ag2S doping and Na-ZSM-5 mixing to improve the photocatalytic NO oxidation performance. Results showed that Ag2S doping improved visible light absorbance and NO oxidation, despite the observed fluctuations in NO conversion being attributable to mass transfer limitations. Mixing with Na-ZSM-5 compensated for the mass transfer limitations and improved its average NO conversion from 19 to 34 %. The Na-ZSM-5 increased the NO adsorption capacity considerably to 0.67 mmol g−1, which reduced the fluctuations in the catalytic performance; subsequently, the diffusion of NO led to its oxidation. Detailed analyses using NO-TPD and DRIFTS further elucidated these improvements, highlighting the significance of optimizing both oxidation reaction and mass transfer rates in the photocatalytic process. We believed that the composite of Ag2S-TiO2 + Na-ZSM-5 could simplify the ways to improve the photocatalytic NO oxidation performance and make it closer to practical applications.

An organic/inorganic Z-scheme heterojunction Yb-MOF/BiOBr for efficient photocatalytic removal of NO

The advantages of visible light-driven catalysts with good light absorption, fast charge separation rate and high redox capacity are compelling. However, conventional inorganic semiconductor, such as pure BiOBr (BOB), showed a rapid photogenerated carriers recombination rate and low solar energy utilization ability, which limited the practical application of its photocatalytic performance. In this work, a novel organic/inorganic interleaved (Z-scheme) heterojunction Yb-MOF/BiOBr (Yb-MOF/BOB) photocatalyst was successfully synthesized. Compared with a single component, the Yb-MOF/BOB heterojunction exhibited significantly enhanced performance in photocatalytic oxidation of NO under visible light. Among them, Yb-MOF/BOB-20 had the best photocatalytic NO removal effect, up to 6424 ppb/g, which was 2.8 times and 4.2 times that of BOB and Yb-MOF, respectively. Photoelectrochemical characterization confirmed that the formation of heterojunctions broadened the absorption sidebands and increased the charge transfer at the interfacial junction of Yb-MOF/BOB. Combined with UPS, ESR and in-situ DRIFTS analysis, possible photocatalytic mechanisms were revealed, in which the formation of the Yb-MOF/BOB heterostructure endowed its high charge mobility and strong redox ability. Therefore, this work provided an effective way for photocatalytic removal of NO, and offered new ideas for developing heterogeneous photocatalysts.

Novel Bi-Functional MoS2/α-Fe2O3 Nanocomposites for High Photocatalytic Performance

In this study, 3-dimensional molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) structures, integrated with hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanoparticles, were fabricated under a convenient two-step hydrothermal route. The fabricated photocatalytic nanocomposites consist of well-arranged MoS2 flakes, resembling spherical flower-like morphology, and the nanoparticulate α-Fe2O3 structures decorate the 3D network. By raising the α-Fe2O3 weight ratio, the composites’ specific surface area and morphology were not affected, regardless of the partial cover of the cavities for higher hematite content. Moreover, the crystallinity examination with XRD, Raman, and FTIR techniques revealed that the precursor reagents were fully transformed to well-crystalized MoS2 and Fe2O3 composites of high purity, as no organic or inorganic residues could be detected. The photocatalytic oxidation and reduction performance of these composites was evaluated against the tetracycline pharmaceutical and the industrial pollutant hexavalent chromium, respectively. The improvement in the removal efficiencies demonstrates that the superior photoactivity originates from the high crystallinity and homogeneity of the composite, in combination with the enhanced charge carriers’ separation in the semiconductors’ interface.

Ultrathin sillenite nanosheets with wide-spectrum response and high photocatalytic oxidation performance

γ-Bi2O3 nanosheets effectively promote charge separation and enhance antibiotic degradation and oxygen evolution activity.

PH-Dependent photocatalytic performance of faceted BiOBr semiconductor particles in degradation of dyes

Bismuth oxyhalides, such as bismuth-oxy-bromide (BiOBr), show high performance in photocatalytic oxidation of water pollutants. Process conditions, and in particular the pH of the solution, largely affect the photocatalytic efficacy, which is fundamentally poorly understood. We prepared {001} faceted bismuth-oxy-bromide (BiOBr), and determined by advanced AFM analysis that the surface charge of the {001} facet of BiOBr is slightly positive at acidic pH (pH 3) and significantly negative and increasing in negative surface charge in the order pH 6 < pH 9. Decomposition of MB or RhB by illumination of BiOBr is strongly favored by basic conditions (pH 9-10), as evident from discoloration experiments, and determination of the TOC as a function of time of illumination. Reference experiments show the pH dependent degradation profiles cannot be explained by differences in quantities of adsorption of the dye, but rather by the lifetime and/or quantity of BiOBr related photoexcited (surface) charge carriers (holes and electrons) – correlating with surface charge. Using MeOH and other scavengers, we show oxidation of MB or RhB is mainly induced by superoxide anions (•O2− radicals) at low pH and by holes or hydroxyl radicals at high pH – in agreement with surface charge induced band bending. This study provides novel understanding of the pH dependence of the rates of photocatalytic degradation of dyes using BiOBr photocatalysts.

Bimetallic synergy significantly enhances the photocatalytic performance of lanthanide porphyrin-based MOFs: Efficient photocatalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohol and benzylamine under mild conditions in air

Metal-organic frameworks as photocatalysts for the conversion of light energy into chemical energy applied to organic conversion is an efficient and sustainable strategy. Lanthanide organometallic frameworks perform poorly in photocatalytic organic reactions owing to their high electron and hole complexation rates. Inspired by the synergistic effect of biomacromolecule porphyrin as a photosensitizer with bimetallic pairs that can boost electron transport efficiency. We synthesized a series of lanthanide porphyrin mechanism MOFs (Nd PMOFs, Co–Nd PMOFs, Ni–Nd PMOFs). These PMOFs are endowed with a novel three-dimensional structure. It is noteworthy that Ni in the middle of the porphyrin ring enhances the photocatalytic performance of Ni–Nd PMOFs. The reasons can be attributed to the introduced Ni and the coordinated Nd elements, which interact synergistically with the porphyrin skeleton. This interaction results in a good photoresponse and promotes an efficient separation of photogenerated electrons and holes. The photocatalytic performance of Ni–Nd PMOFs was tested under mild conditions (12 W visible light, air) using the photocatalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohol and the oxidative coupling of benzylamine as model reactions. The conversion rate for benzyl alcohol was 90 % with a selectivity 94 %, and the conversion rate for benzylamine was 85 % with a selectivity 83 %. The photocatalytic oxidation performance of Ni–Nd PMOFs has been found to be excellent for a wide range of reactions and substrates, indicating that it is a promising photocatalyst. To some extent, the presentation of this work expands the possibilities of lanthanide metal frameworks for photocatalytic organic transformations and sheds new light on the multidirectional applications of lanthanide metal–organic frameworks.

Carbon layer derived carrier transport in Co/g-C3N4 nanosheet junctions for efficient H2O2 production and NO removal

Co nanoparticles are embedded in N-doped carbon nanotubes (Co-N-carbon nanotubes) using combinations of mechano-chemical pre-treatment and thermal polymerization process (at 760 °C). A further thermal polymerization process done on these Co-N-carbon nanotubes and ultrathin graphitic carbon nitrate (g-C3N4) leads to the formation of Co nanoparticles (coated with carbon layers) embedded g-C3N4 nanosheets composite, along with the disappearance of carbon nanotube morphology on the material. The Co/g-C3N4 junctions are constructed with a Schottky barrier formed between the carbon layer coated Co nanoparticles and the g-C3N4 nanosheets. The presence of carbon layers in the composite system facilitates transport of photogenerated electrons at the Fermi level of Co, which results in enhanced photocatalytic H2O2 generation and NO oxidation performances of the composite material in visible light irradiation condition with excellent cyclic stability. The Schottky junction composites constructed using optimized preparation conditions in case of no co-catalyst incorporation shows a photocatalytic H2O2 generation efficiency of 3618 μmolL−1h−1 which is about 1000 times of that of pristine g-C3N4 nanosheets. A NO removal rate of 62 % (higher than that of the commercial P25 (TiO2)) is also observed. These results provide possible approaches on constructing advanced photocatalysts for energy and environmental applications.

Synergistic photocatalytic oxidation and adsorption boost arsenic removal by in-situ carbon-doped TiO2 and nitrogen deficiency C3N4 heterojunction

The efficient removal of arsenic from wastewater is still a challenge. In this paper, a heterojunction consisting of in-situ carbon-doped TiO2 and nitrogen deficiency g-C3N4 (C/TiO2@ND-C3N4) has been constructed, which can completely oxidize As(III) (10,000 μg/L, 40 mL) to As(V) within 12 min under visible light and simultaneously adsorb total As (95.0%) with the pseudo-secondary kinetic equation, superior than in-situ carbon-doped TiO2 (75.0%) and nitrogen deficiency g-C3N4 (50.5%). The good photocatalytic oxidation and adsorption performances of C/TiO2@ND-C3N4 on As(III) removal can be attributed to the successful synthesis of heterojunction. On one hand, the building of C–O–Ti interfacial chemical bonds enable rapid electron transfer and improve the efficiency of photocatalytic oxidation. On the other hand, the decreased As(V) adsorption energy resulted from the synthesized heterojunction boost the adsorption capability of As(V), which was completed by the generation of O–As bonds with oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface of TiO2 and hydrogen bonds with high content pyrrole nitrogen derived from ND-C3N4, respectively. The results manifest that the preparation of bifunctional materials with both photocatalytic oxidation and adsorption properties provides a new strategy to achieve the removal of As.

Surface Modification of ZnO with Sn(IV)-Porphyrin for Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic Degradation of Amaranth Dye.

Two hybrid composite photocatalysts, denoted as SnP/AA@ZnO and SnP@ZnO, were fabricated by a reaction of trans-dihydroxo[5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-pyridyl)porphyrinato]tin(IV) (SnP) and ZnO with and without pretreatment of adipic acid (AA), respectively. In SnP@ZnO, SnP and ZnO are likely held together by a coordinative interaction between the pyridyl N atoms of SnP and the Zn atoms on the surface of ZnO. In the case of SnP/AA@ZnO, the SnP centers were robustly coupled with ZnO nanoparticles through the AA anchors. SnP/AA@ZnO exhibited largely enhanced photocatalytic activities for the degradation of anionic amaranth (AM) dye under a visible light irradiation, compared to SnP, ZnO, and SnP@ZnO. The degradation efficiency of AM by SnP/AA@ZnO was 95% within 60 min at a rate constant of 0.048 min-1. The remarkable photocatalytic oxidation performance of SnP/AA@ZnO was mainly attributed to the synergistic effect between SnP and ZnO. This study is valuable for the development of highly effective composite photocatalytic systems in advanced oxidation processes and is of importance for the treatment of wastewater containing dyes.

Visible-light activation of persulfate by a Z-scheme photocatalyst Fe-C3N4/Bi2Sn2O7 for tetracycline degradation

A Z-scheme photocatalyst Fe-C3N4/Bi2Sn2O7 was prepared and used to couple with persulfate oxidation in order to realize high efficient degradation of tetracycline. The results indicated that, under visible light irradiation, 100 mL of 20 mg·L−1 tetracycline could be efficiently decontaminated in 30 min with 0.5 g/L photocatalyst and 2 mM persulfate. The first-order kinetic constant was 6.04 and 16.13 times that of single photocatalytic oxidation by Fe-C3N4/Bi2Sn2O7 and single persulfate oxidation, respectively. With the help of the Z-scheme heterojunction between Fe-C3N4 and Bi2Sn2O7, more electrons were photogenerated to participate in the Fe2+/3+ cycle reaction, synergistically improving the activation of persulfate. Meanwhile, the holes thereby ensured the high photocatalytic oxidation performance in the coupling system. The analysis of electron spin resonance verified that·OH,·O2-, h+, 1O2, and·SO4- had positive impacts on the tetracycline degradation. Additionally, the operation mechanism of the coupling system and the possible degradation pathway were proposed.

Fabrication, characterization, and application of BiOI@ZIF-8 nanocomposite for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of acetaminophen from aqueous solutions under UV–vis irradiation

This work investigates the use of novel BiOI@ZIF-8 nanocomposite for the removal of acetaminophen (Ace) from synthetic wastewater. The samples were analyzed using FTIR, XRD, XPS, DRS, PL, FESEM-EDS, and ESR techniques. The effects of the loading capacity of ZIF-8 on the photocatalytic oxidation performance of bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI) were studied. The photocatalytic degradation of Ace was maximized by optimizing pH, reaction time and the amount of photocatalyst. On this basis, the removal mechanisms of the target pollutant by the nanocomposite and its photodegradation pathways were elucidated. Under optimized conditions of 1 g/L of composite, pH 6.8, and 4 h of reaction time, it was found that the BiOI@ZIF-8 (w/w = 1:0.01) nanocomposite exhibited the highest Ace removal (94%), as compared to that of other loading ratios at the same Ace concentration of 25 mg/L. Although this result was encouraging, the treated wastewater still did not satisfy the required statutory of 0.2 mg/L. It is suggested that the further biological processes need to be adopted to complement Ace removal in the samples. To sustain its economic viability for wastewater treatment, the spent composite still could be reused for consecutive five cycles with 82% of regeneration efficiency. Overall, this series of work shows that the nanocomposite was a promising photocatalyst for Ace removal from wastewater samples.

Molecular confined synthesis of magnetic CoOx/Co/C hybrid catalyst for photocatalytic water oxidation and CO2 reduction

Photosynthesis [6CO2 + 12H2O → (CH2O)6 + 6O2 + 6H2O] in nature contains a light reaction process for oxygen evolution and a dark reaction process for carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction to carbohydrates, which is of great significance for the survival of living matter. Therefore, for simulating photosynthesis, it is desirable to design and fabricate a bifunctional catalyst for promoting photocatalytic water oxidation and CO2 reduction performances. Herein, a molecular confined synthesis strategy is reasonably proposed and applied, that is the bifunctional CoOx/Co/C-T (T = 700, 800 and 900 °C) photocatalysts prepared by the pyrolysis of molecular Co-EDTA under N2 and air atmosphere in turn. Among the prepared photocatalysts, the CoOx/Co/C-800 shows the best photocatalytic water oxidation activity with an oxygen yield of 51.2%. In addition, for CO2 reduction reaction, the CO evolution rate of 12.6 µmol/h and selectivity of 75% can be achieved over this catalyst. The improved photocatalytic activities are attributed to the rapid electron transfer between the photosensitizer and the catalyst, which is strongly supported by the current density-voltage (j-V), steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence spectra (PL). Overall, this work provides a reference for the preparation and optimization of photocatalysts with the capacity for water oxidation and CO2 reduction reactions.

Promoting the electron/hole co-extraction using piezotronic effect in Pt/ZnIn2S4/BaTiO3 heterojunctions for photocatalytic synergistic hydrogen evolution and HMF oxidation

Efficient spatial separation of photogenerated carriers is the key to achieving photocatalytic oxidation reduction synergistic reactions, and the built-in electric field generated by piezoelectric effects can provide a strong driving force for charge separation. A novel Pt/ZnIn2S4/BaTiO3 (PBZIS) piezo-photocatalyst with spatial charge separation was successfully constructed through two-step hydrothermal and photodeposition methods. Due to the special 1D/2D core/shell structure, the inner BaTiO3 can served as hole-storage layer, while the outer Pt nanoparticles can acted as electron capture center, thus greatly improving the separation of photo generated charge carriers and achieving spatial separation of redox sites. Under the ultrasound, the polarized electric field induced by the piezoelectric effect can further improve the extraction rate of photo generated holes by BaTiO3 and accelerate surface catalytic reactions. Therefore, the synergism of electron/hole co-extraction and piezoelectric effect construct a directional transmission channel and target active sites for photogenerated electron-holes over PBZIS heterojunctions, reuslting in the highest performance for photocatalytic cooperative H2 evolution (1335.3 μmol g−1 h−1) and HMF oxidation (1070.8 μmol g−1 h−1). This work would inspire the development of high-performance piezo-photocatalysts for the cooperative biomass oxidation coupling with high efficient hydrogen evolution.

Enhanced photocatalytic oxidation of Sn/N co-doping TiO2 on As(III) under visible light

The photocatalytic oxidation technology has been verified as an effective method to oxidize As(III) to As(V) with low toxicity and the photocatalyst with perfect performances is still the core factor in the treatment procedure. In this paper, a high property photocatalyst of Sn/N co-doping TiO2 (Sn/N-TiO2) has been synthesized and applied to the photocatalytic oxidation of As(III). Through a series of characterization methods, it is proved that Sn and N atoms have been effectively doped into the crystal structure of TiO2, which makes the optical absorption wavelength of TiO2 extend from ultraviolet light to visible light region. At the same time, the presence of O-Ti-N bonds can offer an efficient electron moving path and further improve the photogenerated electron transfer rate, so as to enhance the photocatalytic oxidation effect. The synthesized Sn/N-TiO2 photocatalyst only takes 21 min to realize complete oxidation of As(III) (10,000 μg/L, 40 mL) to As(V) under visible light, superior to N-doped TiO2 (27 min) and Sn doped TiO2 (24 min) photocatalysts. The achievements of such efficient photocatalytic oxidation performances result from the synergistic interaction of hydroxyl radicals (·OH), superoxide radical (·O2–), and hole (h+) formed in the photocatalytic oxidation process and the O-Ti-N bond formed by co-doping. This paper provides a new insight for solving arsenic pollution by photocatalytic oxidation technology.