Photochemical synthesis: Using light to build C–C bonds under mild conditions

A review of recent advancements in metal-free arylations via photogenerated triplet aryl cations and decatungstate anion ([W₁₀O₃₂]⁴⁻) photocatalyzed C–C bond formation is reported herein. These approaches are two examples of the great potentialities of photons as green activants in organic synthesis, allowing the functionalization of different chemical substrates under mild conditions (room temperature, aqueous solvents, absence of aggressive and unstable reactants and of expensive transition metal-based catalysts, and chance to use solar light as the energy source).     

Modifications on reduced titanium dioxide photocatalysts: A review

A large variety of reduced titanium dioxide (TiO_2-x) materials have been reported recently. Reduced TiO₂, usually resulting from the removal of oxygen atoms or hydrogen incorporation, is proved to be efficient for achieving highly photocatalytic performance including photodegradation of organic compounds, hydrogen generation from water splitting, CO₂ reduction for CH₄ evolution, solar cells, etc. To further improve the properties and activities of TiO_2-x, a combination of the Ti³⁺ self-doping and other traditional modifications like nonmetals doping has been proposed in the past decades. This paper provides a general and critical review on the further modifications on reduced TiO₂ samples, including non-metal elements (N, B, S, F and I) doping, noble-metal (Au, Pt, Pd and Ag) and iron-group metal (Fe, Co and Ni) grafting, metal oxide compositing, carbon (nanotubes and graphene) and carbon-based-material compositing, special facets exposure (mainly dual {001}-{101} and {111}-{110} facets) of TiO_2-x and ordered structure controlling of TiO_2-x. These modifications enhance the physical and/or chemical properties of the reduced TiO₂, or create new features for the modified TiO_2-x samples, which finally leads to the enhancement of photocatalytic performance. Key examples such as N-doping, Au grafting and graphene-based compositing are discussed carefully, and the mechanisms for solar light enhancement, electron transfer and charge separation are also investigated. Finally, some challenging issues on TiO_2-x catalysts are also proposed to encourage new approaches for preparation of TiO_2-x catalysts with efficiently photocatalytic performance.     

Photocatalysis in Supramolecular Fluorescent Metallacycles and Metallacages

The utilization of photocatalytic techniques for achieving light-to-fuel conversion is a promising way to ease the shortage of energy and degradation of the ecological environment. Fluorescent metallacycles and metallacages have drawn considerable attention and have been used in widespread fields due to easy preparation and their abundant functionality including photocatalysis. This review covers recent advances in photocatalysis in discrete supramolecular fluorescent metallacycles and metallacages. The developments in the utilization of the metallacycles skeletons and the effect of fluorescence-resonance energy transfer for photocatalysis are discussed. Furthermore, the use of the ligands decorated by organic chromophores or redox metal sites in metallacages as photocatalysts and their ability to encapsulate appropriate catalytic cofactors for photocatalysis are summarized. For the sake of brevity, macrocycles and cages with inorganic coordination complexes such as ruthenium complexes and iridium complexes are not included in this minireview.     

Acceptorless Photocatalytic Dehydrogenation of Furfuryl Alcohol (FOL) to Furfural (FAL) and Furoic Acid (FA) over Ti3C2Tx/CdS under Visible Light

Acceptorless photocatalytic dehydrogenation is not only a promising alternative to photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen generation but also provides a green and sustainable strategy for the synthesis of value-added organic compounds. In this work, Ti₃C₂T_x/CdS nanocomposites were obtained by self-assembly of hexagonal CdS in the presence of preformed Ti₃C₂T_x nanosheets, which serves as a photocatalyst for acceptorless dehydrogenation of biomass-derived furfuryl alcohol (FOL) to furfural (FAL) and furoic acid (FA) in neutral and alkaline medium respectively, with simultaneous generation of stoichiometric hydrogen under visible light. Ti₃C₂T_x MXene acts as an efficient cocatalyst for the photocatalytic dehydrogenation of FOL over CdS, with an optimum performance achieved over 0.50 wt% Ti₃C₂T_x/CdS nanocomposite. This study provides an economic and sustainable strategy for the simultaneous valorization of biomass-derived FOL to produce FAL and FA as well as the production of clean energy hydrogen under mild condition based on noble metal-free semiconductor-based photocatalysts.     

金属相1T´ MoS2增强类石墨相C3N4的可见光催化性能

通过煅烧和静电自组装的方法制备了1T′ MoS₂超薄纳米片和类石墨烯相氮化碳(g-C₃N₄)纳米片的复合材料. 该材料在光催化实验中展现出6.24 μmol?g^?1?h^?1的产氢速率, 优于贵金属铂修饰的g-C₃N₄纳米片的性能(4.64 μmol?g^?1?h^?1). 此外, 该复合材料在光催化降解有机染料甲基橙的实验中表现出0.19 min^?1的催化速率, 而纯g-C₃N₄纳米片只有0.053 min^?1的催化速率. 材料光催化性能的提升可归结于1T′MoS₂ 和g-C₃N₄之间的协同效应, 包括光吸收的增强以及因1T′MoS₂优异电子导电性而得到的高效电荷分离.     

NiS助催化剂的硫调控光沉积合成及其增强g-C3N4的光催化产氢性能

作为一种非金属聚合半导体,石墨相氮化碳(g-C3N4)具有特殊的能带结构、可见光响应能力以及优良的物理化学性质以及生产成本低等特点,因而已成为目前光催化领域的研究热点.然而,由于g-C3N4被光激发的电子与空穴极易复合,导致g-C3N4材料的光催化性能并不理想.而助剂修饰是实现光生载流子有效分离以提高光催化活性的有效途径.众所周知,贵金属Pt可以作为光催化产氢的反应位点,但高昂的成本限制了它的实际应用.所以,开发高效的非贵金属助剂很有必要.近年来,NiS作为优良的电子助剂在光催化领域受到广泛关注.大量研究表明,NiS可以作为g-C3N4的产氢活性位点用于提高其光催化产氢性能.NiS助剂主要是通过水热、煅烧和液相沉淀的方法修饰在g-C3N4的表面上.相较而言,助剂的光沉积方法具有一些独特的优势,例如节能、环保、简易并且能够实现其原位牢固地沉积在光催化剂的表面.然而g-C3N4光生电子和空穴强还原和氧化能力容易导致像Ni^2+的还原和S^2-的氧化等副反应发生,因此NiS助剂很难光沉积在g-C3N4材料表面.本文采用硫调控的光沉积法成功合成了NiS/g-C3N4光催化材料,该法利用g-C3N4在光照条件下产生的光生电子结合S以及Ni^2+生成NiS,然后原位沉积在g-C3N4表面.由于E0(S/NiS)(0.096 V)比E0(Ni^2+/Ni)(-0.23 V)更正,所以NiS优先原位沉积在g-C3N4表面.因此,硫调控的光沉积法促进了NiS的生成,并抑制了金属Ni等副反应的形成.通过X射线光电子能谱分析NiS/g-C3N4的表面化学态,表明该方法能成功地将NiS修饰在g-C3N4的表面,这也得到透射电镜和高分辨透射电镜结果的证实.光催化产氢的结果表明,NiS/g-C3N4光催化剂实现了良好的光催化性能,其最优产氢速率(244μmol h^?1 g^?1)接近于1 wt%Pt/g-C3N4(316μmol h^?1 g^?1).这是因为硫调控的光沉积法实现NiS助剂在g-C3N4表面的修饰,从而促进光生电子与空穴的有效分离,进而提高光催化制氢效率.此外,在该方法中,NiS的形成通常在g-C3N4光生电子的表面传输位点上,因此也能够使NiS提供更多的活性位点以提高界面产氢催化反应速率.电化学表征结果也进一步证明NiS/g-C3N4光催化剂加快了电子与空穴的分离和转移.更重要的是,这种简易且通用的方法还可以实现CoSx,CuSx,AgSx对g-C3N4的助剂修饰,并且都提高了g-C3N4的光催化产氢性能,表明该方法具有一定的普适性,为高效光催化材料的合成提供了新的思路.     

高可见光催化降解污染物和产氢活性的Z型N-掺杂K4Nb6O17/g-C3N4异质结

随着人口增长和全球工业化进程加快,人们饱受环境污染和能源短缺问题的困扰.半导体光催化技术作为一种高效、可持续、环境友好、有潜力的新技术,在环境净化和能源开发方面有着广阔的应用前景.到目前为止,人们已开发出多种半导体光催化剂,并广泛应用于污染物降解、氢气制备和二氧化碳还原等领域.其中,化合物K4Nb6O17具有典型的层状结构、合适的电子能带结构、结构易改性以及良好的电荷传输性能等特点,在光催化领域得到了广泛研究.然而,单纯K4Nb6O17仍存在光响应范围窄、光生载流子复合率高等问题,限制了K4Nb6O17的进一步应用.因此,需要对K4Nb6O17进行改性,拓宽其光吸收范围,提高其光生载流子分离效率,从而提高其光催化活性.本研究通过简单焙烧法制备Z型N-掺杂K4Nb6O17/g-C3N4(KCN)异质结光催化剂,其中石墨相氮化碳(g-C3N4)在复合材料中质量比约为50%.层状K4Nb6O17层板的电子结构通过N掺杂进行调控,拓宽其光响应范围,使其具有可见光响应;同时,形成的g-C3N4位于N-掺杂K4Nb6O17的外层以及内层空间,在这两种组分之间形成异质结,有利于提高光生载流子的分离效率.荧光光谱、时间分辨荧光光谱和光电化学测试表明,N掺杂和异质结的形成有利于增强光生电子-空穴对的传输和分离效率.通过在可见光照射下降解罗丹明B(RhB)和产氢来评估材料的光催化性能.相比g-C3N4(8.24μmol/h)和Me-K4Nb6O17(~1.30μmol/h),KCN复合材料光催化产氢效率(~16.91μmol/h)得到了极大提高,并显示出极好的光催化产氢稳定性能.对于光催化降解RhB体系,KCN复合材料也显示出较好的光催化活性和稳定性,并能很好地将RhB矿化.鉴于KCN复合材料具有较小的比表面积(9.9 m^2/g)且无孔结构,认为比表面积对光催化活性影响较小.因此,与单组分相比,KCN复合材料光催化产氢和RhB降解活性都得到了极大提高,活性的增强主要归功于N掺杂和异质结形成的协同效应,其中N掺杂可以拓宽光捕获能力,异质结形成可提高电荷载流子的分离效率.电子自旋共振(ESR)谱表明,在KCN降解RhB体系中,超氧自由基(·O2^?)、羟基自由基(·OH)和空穴(h^+)作为主要活性物质都参与了反应.结合实验结果可以推测KCN复合材料满足了Z型光催化体系,该体系具有高效的光生载流子分离效率和较高的氧化还原能力.     

酰胺连接的共价有机骨架的制备及其在水中高效光催化性能

光催化是将太阳能转换为化学能的绿色可持续发展途径,有望解决日益严重的能源危机和环境污染问题.在光催化过程中,半导体材料作为光催化剂,负责可见光的捕获、光生载流子的生成和传输以及氧化还原反应,在整个光催化系统中起着决定性的作用.共价有机骨架材料(COFs)是一类新兴的半导体光催化剂,已被证明在可见光诱导的水分解、二氧化碳还原、有机转化反应和水中污染物降解方面具有应用前景.然而,大部分COFs是通过可逆反应构筑的,在水中及苛刻条件下的稳定性差.因此,提升基于COFs的光催化剂在水相中的光催化活性和循环稳定性仍然面临巨大挑战.本文提出了一种新策略,即通过实现多重协同效应,设计和开发2D-COFs作为在水中的高效非均相光催化剂.通过后合成策略将亚胺键连接的2D-COFs氧化,制备了两种具有丰富三嗪结构单元的以酰胺键连接的2D-COFs(命名为COF-JLU18和COF-JLU19).结果表明,COF-JLU18和COF-JLU19具有高比表面积和孔体积,其比表面积分别为1156和541 m2/g;COF-JLU19具有比相似拓扑结构的亚胺COF-JLU17更好的水蒸气吸附性能.此外,COF-JLU19表现出了极高的化学稳定性,在水中、盐酸和氢氧化钠溶液中浸泡两天,其结构和结晶性均没有发生明显变化.由此可见,酰胺键不仅可以增加材料骨架的亲水性,还能够提高COFs对水的稳定性.本文制备的酰胺键连接的COF-JLU19材料,在光降解罗丹明B水溶液(RhB)反应中可以获得高达0.69 min?1的光降解速率常数,活性明显优于其他光催化剂,如C3N4等.COF-JLU19具有较好的催化活性主要归因于以下两方面:一方面,良好的亲水性和固有孔隙率之间的协同效应可以增强COFs在水中对染料的吸附能力,使其光催化活性得到有效提升;另一方面,高的结晶度和优秀的稳定性使酰胺键连接的COFs在多相光催化中实现稳定循环利用.为了扩展COFs的应用前景,本文还制备了一种基于酰胺键连接COFs的静电纺丝膜,在以太阳光为光源的光降解罗丹明B水溶液实验中表现出较高的光催化活性和重复使用性.综上,本文提出的多重协同效应为基于COFs的高效光催化剂的设计提供了一种有效策略.     

光热协同催化去除挥发性有机化合物和CO的研究进展

随着社会和经济的快速发展,环境污染和能源短缺等问题,尤其是空气污染,已经影响了人类的可持续发展.挥发性有机化合物(VOCs),如苯、甲苯、甲醛和丙酮是主要的空气污染物,它们主要来源于油漆、有机化学品、石油化工产品、药物和工业生产过程.大多VOCs具有特殊的气味,而且具有一定的毒性、致畸性和致癌作用,尤其是苯、甲苯和甲醛等,会对人类的身体健康产生巨大的负面作用.因此,研发新型高效VOCs处理技术迫在眉睫.除VOCs外,CO也是非常常见的空气污染物,在室温条件下,它无色无味,没有刺激性且易燃易爆.CO主要来源于煤和石油等含碳材料的不完全燃烧.在日常生活中很容易被排放到大气中.在室温下,CO分子是非常稳定的,很难与其它气体分子发生化学反应.因此,CO的活化和转化是一项具有挑战性的工作.催化氧化技术是在催化剂存在的条件下进行的氧化反应,可以将VOCs直接氧化成为无毒无害的CO₂和H₂O,也可将CO氧化成CO₂.光催化技术是一种新型的环境友好型技术,可在常温常压下进行,反应条件温和、能耗小、操作简单,成本低,氧化产物为无毒无害物质,以及不存在二次污染等优点.但光催化反应效率较低,主要通过入射光的能量驱动化学反应.热催化则通过升温的方法来驱动化学反应.目前,热催化剂主要为贵金属型催化剂,其具有催化活性较高,选择性较好且不存在二次污染等优点.但高能耗影响产物的稳定性和选择性,此外,贵金属的使用导致成本增加.光热协同催化可以整合光催化和热催化的优势,并弥补各自的不足,形成一种协同效应,是一种新颖的催化反应.目前,关于光催化或热催化高效去除VOCs和CO的综述较多,但很少有关于光热协同催化高效去除VOCs和CO的综述.本综述重点讨论光热协同催化高效去除VOCs和CO的最新研究进展.首先,介绍了光热协同催化的概况,如设计光热催化材料和催化反应器等.其次,重点介绍苯、甲苯、乙醇、甲醛、乙醛和丙酮等几种典型VOCs的光热协同催化的最新研究进展.再次,总结了光热协同催化CO加氢和氧化的最新研究进展.此外,还探讨了光热协同催化去除VOCs和CO的可能反应机理.最后,对光热协同催化的应用前景进行了展望.     

Trash GGBFS-based geopolymer as a novel sunlight-responsive photocatalyst for dye discolouration

In this study, we report a waste material-ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) as a low cost geopolymer, hybridised with ZnO to form a novel and efficient photocatalyst capable of discolouring textile wastewater. GGBFS is a waste material in an iron industry. Methylene blue was used as the probe dye and natural sunlight was used for activation of the photocatalyst. It was observed that under the experimental conditions, ZnGP-40 exhibited twice the discoloration efficiency than conventionally used ZnO or TiO₂. This enhanced performance is majorly attributed to increased surface area of ZnO when strewn in the GGBFS matrix. The photocatalysts were characterized by SEM, TEM, PSA, TGA, BET and UV–Vis/NIR. The effect of photocatalyst loading, speed of agitation and solar insolation has also been studied. Since this study has been performed in direct sunlight, it exhibits a realizable application of solar energy in the treatment of wastewater.