Nitrogen-doped carbon enhanced mesoporous TiO2 in photocatalytic remediation of organic pollutants

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Controllable synthesis of mesoporous photocatalysts is of great interest for the photocatalytic remediation of organic pollutants from wastewater by sunlight....     

Core-shell structure CdS/TiO2 for enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic organic pollutants degradation

CdS modified mesoporous titania core-shell spheres (CdS/CS-TiO₂) with enhanced visible-light activity were synthesized by an in situ method. This method included two steps: planting CdO into the framework of anatase TiO₂ core-shell spheres and then converting it to CdS by ion-exchange. The physicochemical properties of the obtained samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electronic micrograph, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra and nitrogen sorption. The in situ strategy resulted in CdS quantum dots highly dispersed in CS-TiO₂ without destroying the mesoporous core-shell structure. Compared with CS-TiO₂, the as-synthesized samples exhibited stronger visible-light absorption capability and greatly enhanced photocatalytic activity toward the degradation of Rhodamine B and 4-chlorophenol aqueous solution under visible light irradiation (λ > 420 nm).     

TiO2 nanoparticles in mesoporous TUD-1: synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic performance in propane oxidation

A series of TiO2-TUD-1 samples was synthesized with a variable Ti loading in the range Si/Ti = 100, 20, 2.5, and 1.6, by using a one-pot surfactant-free procedure. The materials obtained were characterized by elemental analysis; X-ray diffraction (XRD); N2 sorption measurements; high-resolution TEM (HR-TEM); 29Si NMR, UV-visible and Raman spectroscopy. As a function of increasing metal loading either isolated Ti atoms, or (above a Ti loading of approximately 2.5 wt- %) combinations of isolated Ti atoms and anatase (TiO2) nanoparticles were obtained; both were incorporated in the highly porous siliceous matrix. The photocatalytic performance of these materials was tested by studying the propane oxidation process following irradiation at lambda = 365 nm, selectively activating the anatase nanoparticles. In comparison to commercial anatase powder, TiO2 nanoparticles in TUD-1 showed high photochemical selectivity towards acetone, the sample with a Si/Ti ratio of 1.6 being the most selective. Size and confinement effects are consistent with the difference in performance of the TUD-1 materials and TiO2, limiting the number of electron transfers available for each propane molecule.     

TiO2光催化氧化去除有机污染物的研究进展

本文综述了近年来TiO2光催化降解有机污染物的研究进展，讨论了各类 有机污染物光催化氧化反应的特点、影响反应速率的因素及光催化体系的改进。     

Enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production performance of pillararene-doped mesoporous TiO2 with extended visible-light response

Pillararenes are a new type of supramolecular hosts,and they have been widely applied in drug delivery,catalysis,separation process,and sensors.However,they have rarely been used to produce hydrogen.Here,we report that pillararenes were used as functional molecules to explore photocatalysts and efficiently promoted hydrogen production from water.The most common and easily synthesized pdimethoxy pillar[5]arene（PI-OMe） was employed to form an organic-inorganic hybrid material with titanium dioxide...     

Highly efficient photocatalytic dehalogenation of organic halides on TiO2 loaded with bimetallic Pd-Pt alloy nanoparticles

UV irradiation of TiO(2) loaded with bimetallic Pd-Pt alloy particles promotes highly efficient dehalogenation of organic halides with alcohol as a hydrogen source.     

Flame synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles with high photocatalytic activity

Growth behaviour of TiO₂ particles, which has significant influence on their crystallinity and surface area, has been controlled by varying the process parameters of the flame aerosol synthesis. An existing method to determine the crystallinity of the powder has been modified which facilitates comparison of the degree of crystallinity of the nanoparticles synthesized by various methods. Resultant TiO₂ nanoparticles were characterized by XRD and nitrogen physisorption to determine the degree of crystallinity quantitatively and surface area, respectively, and the decomposition rate of an industrial dye, methylene blue, has been taken as the measure of the photocatalytic activity (PCA). TiO₂ nanoparticles showed improved photocatalytic activity compared to the commercial photocatalyst, Degussa P25. This is attributed to the increased degree of crystallinity and surface area of the TiO₂ nanoparticles compared to Degussa P25. The results of this study elucidate the importance of the gas-phase processes and strategy to synthesize highly active TiO₂ photocatalysts in a single step. Moreover, difference in the PCA of the nanoparticles synthesized by the similar gas-phase routes has been shown and the particles are tailor-made for improved PCA in the present study.     

Novel synthesis of high-surface-area ordered mesoporous TiO2 with anatase framework for photocatalytic applications

Ordered mesoporous TiO₂ materials with an anatase frameworks have been synthesized by using a cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (C₁₆TMABr) as a structure-directing agent and soluble peroxytitanates as Ti precursor through a self-assembly between the positive charged surfactant S⁺ and the negatively charged inorganic framework I^? (S⁺I^? type). The low-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of the as-prepared mesoporous TiO₂ materials indicates a hexagonal mesostructure. XRD and transmission electron microscopy results and nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms measurements indicate that the calcined mesoporous TiO₂ possesses an anatase crystalline framework having a maximum pore size of 6.9 nm and a maximum Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface area of 284 m² g^?1. This ordered mesoporous anatase TiO₂ also demonstrates a high photocatalytic activity for degradation of methylene blue under ultraviolet irradiation.     

A mesoporous Pt/TiO2 nanoarchitecture with catalytic and photocatalytic functions

A novel metal/semiconductor nanocomposite with catalytic and photocatalytic functions has been prepared. The new material consists of highly dispersed platinum (Pt) nanoparticles embedded in a cubic mesoporous nanocrystalline anatase (meso-nc-TiO2) thin film. The porous thin film possesses a narrow pore-size distribution and a large surface area. The diameter of the Pt cluster can be controlled to below 5 nm, and the high dispersion of these clusters gives rise to catalytic activity for the oxidation of carbon monoxide, an important reaction for automobile exhaust treatment. This novel ordered mesoporous Pt/TiO2 nanoarchitecture is also a promising photochemical material, as demonstrated by the photo-driven killing of Micrococcus lylae cells on the film.     

Facilely anchoring Cu2O nanoparticles on mesoporous TiO2 nanorods for enhanced photocatalytic CO2 reduction through efficient charge transfer

Semiconductor-employed photocatalytic CO₂ reduction has been regarded as a promising approach for environmental-friendly conversion of CO₂ into solar fuels. Herein, TiO₂/Cu₂O composite nanorods have been successfully fabricated by a facile chemical reduction method and applied for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction. The composition and structure characterization indicates that the Cu₂O nanoparticles are coupled with TiO₂ nanorods with an intimate contact. Under light illumination, all the TiO₂/Cu₂O composite nanorods enhance the photocatalytic CO₂ reduction. In particular, the TiO₂/Cu₂O-15% sample exhibits the highest CH₄ yield (1.35 µmol g^-1 h^-1) within 4 h irradiation, and it is 3.07 and 15 times higher than that of pristine TiO₂ nanorods and Cu₂O nanoparticles, respectively. The enhanced photoreduction capability of the TiO₂/Cu₂O-15% is attributed to the intimate construction of Cu₂O nanoparticles on TiO₂ nanorods with formed p-n junction to accelerate the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. This work provides a reference for rational design of a p-n heterojunction photocatalyst for CO₂ photoreduction.     

Direct synthesis of Nd3+ doped mesoporous TiO2 and investigation of its photocatalytic performance

Nd³⁺ doped mesoporous TiO₂ samples with different molar ratio of Nd/Ti were synthesized by a sol?Cgel method. The textural and optical properties of the samples were systematical characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, N₂ adsorption?Cdesorption isotherms, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV?CVisible absorbance spectroscopy. It was revealed that Nd³⁺ doping inhibited the phase transformation from anatase to rutile after calcination, and the mesoporous structure of doped samples was still retained with the increase of Nd/Ti molar ratio. The surface area of the samples varied from 137 to 210 m²g^?1 and the average pore size of them ranged between 5.7 and 8.2?nm. The photocatalytic activities of all the samples were evaluated by degradation methyl orange (MO) in aqueous solution as a model reaction under UV light irradiation. The results showed that the doped samples demonstrated a higher photocatalytic activity than the mesoporous TiO₂, and the 3?mol% Nd³⁺ doped mesoporous TiO₂ exhibited the best photocatalytic performance. Meanwhile, a promotion effect of the H₂O₂ added was verified in the degradation of MO.     

Fabrication of nanoporous polymeric crystalline TiO2 composite for photocatalytic degradation of aqueous organic pollutants under visible light irradiation

A nanoporous polymeric crystalline TiO₂ composite (TiO₂/PDVB‐MA) has been successfully synthesized through an in situ synthesis method using divinylbenzene (DVB), methacrylic acid (MA) and tetrabutyl titanate. The experimental results showed that TiO₂ nanoparticles composed of the mixture phases of anatase and rutile were homogeneously dispersed into the PDVB‐MA support. The TiO₂/PDVB‐MA composite was used as photocatalyst for Rhodamine B (RhB), bisphenol A and 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol degradation under visible light irradiation. More interestingly, the excellent photocatalytic performance of the composite was observed with regard to RhB and bisphenol A, which might be ascribed to the synergistic effect between TiO₂ nanoparticles and PDVB‐MA. Moreover, TiO₂/PDVB‐MA composite could be recycled at least four times in the removal of RhB, suggesting that it is a promising photocatalyst to catalyze the degradation of organic pollutants under visible light irradiation.     

Large-surface mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticles: Synthesis, growth and photocatalytic performance

This study demonstrates a facile and effective method to generate mono-dispersed titanium dioxide spheres at ambient conditions. The size of the colloids can be controlled from 60 to 500 nm by optimizing experimental parameters (e.g., concentration, time, and temperature). Anatase TiO₂ can be obtained through titanium glycolate colloids generated in acetone via two ways: water boiling approach and calcination at a high temperature of 500 °C. Particle characteristics (shape, size, and size distribution) were measured by advanced techniques, including transmission electron microscope (TEM), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), UV/Vis absorption spectrum, nitrogen gas adsorption and desorption isotherms Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area measurement, and X-ray diffraction technique (XRD). The possible mechanism of nucleation and growth of such colloids was discussed. The role of acetone in the formation and growth of titanium glycolate colloids was also investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Finally, the photocatalysis performance of such anatase TiO₂ particles was tested and proved to be efficient in degradation of organic dyes (e.g., phenolphthalein and methly orange).     

Synthesis of Mn-doped TiO2 by novel route and photocatalytic mineralization/intermediate studies of organic pollutants

Research on Chemical Intermediates - The doping of TiO2 particles with various manganese (Mn) concentrations (0.25–1.0%) were synthesized using simple sol–gel and modified sol–gel...     

Preparation of TiO2 nanocrystallites by hydrolyzing with gaseous water and their photocatalytic activity

TiO₂ nanocrystallites were prepared from precursors tetra-n-butyl titanate (Ti(OC₄H₉)₄) and titanium tetrachloride (TiCl₄). The precursors were hydrolyzed by gaseous water in autoclave, and then calcined at predetermined testing temperatures. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The photocatalytic activities of the samples were evaluated by the photobleaching of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution and the photocatalytic oxidation of propylene in gas phase at ambient temperature. The results showed that the anatase phase nanocrystalline TiO₂ could be obtained at relatively low temperatures (for precursor Ti(OC₄H₉)₄ at 110 °C and for TiCl₄ at 140 °C, respectively), and that the as prepared samples exhibited high photocatalytic activities to photobleach MB in aqueous solution. As the calcination temperatures increasing, the decolor ratio of MB increased and reached the maximum value of nearly 100% at 600 °C, and then decreased. The photobleaching of MB by all samples followed the pseudo-first-order kinetics with respect to MB concentration. The photodecomposition amount of propylene by TiO₂ nanocrystallites calcined at 600 °C from precursor of Ti(OC₄H₉)₄ is 21.6%, which is approaching to that by Degussa P25 TiO₂ (24.9%).     

孔道三维相互连通锐钛矿TiO2-SiO2纳米复合介孔材料的制备及其高光催化活性

本文报道一种孔道三维相互连通锐钛矿TiO2-SiO2纳米复合介孔材料的制备.该介孔材料是以两维六方有序结构、直孔道、锐钛矿70TiO2-30SiO2-950纳米复合介孔材料(于950oC晶化2 h)为前驱体, NaOH为SiO2的刻蚀剂,通过“在孔壁内造孔”的方法获得.我们的策略是采用温和的造孔条件,如稀NaOH溶液,合适的温度与固/液比等.采用X射线衍射(XRD),透射电镜(TEM)和低温N2吸附等技术对样品的介孔结构进行了系统表征.结果表明,墙内孔的密度非常高,孔径均一(平均尺寸3.6 nm),且在三维网络高度连通原孔道,但介孔结构仍保持其完整性.锐钛矿纳米晶粒的结晶度和大小在墙内造孔前后基本保持不变.该材料光催化降解罗丹明B(0.303 min–1)与亚甲基蓝(0.757 min–1)的活性相当高,此活性分别是其母体材料的5.1和5.3倍,甚至是Degussa P25光催化剂的16.5和24.1倍.这充分表明三维连通孔道结构对活性的大幅提高起了关键作用.孔道三维连通式锐钛矿TiO2-SiO2纳米复合介孔材料对上述污染物展现出意想不到的高降解活性,显著高于迄今已报道的金属氧化物基介孔材料对上述污染物的降解活性.更重要的是,该光催化剂具有相当高的稳定性和重复使用性.相信,本方法将为具有超高性能的孔道三维相互连通其它金属氧化物基介孔材料的制备铺平了道路.
　　小角XRD结果表明,母体材料的孔道是两维六方有序结构,在孔壁内造孔之后,样品原有的介孔结构仍保持其规整性.宽角XRD结果显示,二氧化钛的晶相是锐钛矿,晶粒尺寸为10.8 nm.造新孔之后,锐钛矿纳米晶粒的结晶度和大小与母体样品的相比变化不大. TEM结果显示,母体样品的孔壁内没有孔.孔道是两维六方有序排列的直孔道,孔径大小均一(平均尺寸4.1 nm).高分辨透射电镜(TEM)观察揭示,锐钛矿纳米晶粒(平均大小11.3 nm)在孔壁内随机排列,并与无定形SiO2纳米颗粒相互连接,相间共存,形成类似“砖块?水泥砂浆”砌成的孔壁,这种独特的复合骨架结构赋予其很高的稳定性.当一些SiO2纳米颗粒被去除之后, TEM观察显示,孔壁内有密集分布的孔,这些孔取向随机,并在三维方向连通原孔道,但介孔骨架结构仍保持其完整性.墙内孔的大小范围很窄(3.1?4.3 nm),平均大小为3.6 nm.高分辨TEM观察显示,锐钛矿晶粒大小与母体材料内的相比基本未变.上述结果与XRD结果一致.低温N2吸附表征结果显示,母体样品内只有一种孔道,孔径为4.0 nm.去除部分SiO2后的样品内有两种孔道,孔径分别是3.4和4.1 nm.这些结果与TEM的观察吻合.罗丹明B与亚甲基蓝在造孔前后样品内扩散速率评价结果显示,其在三维连通孔道内的扩散速率很高,大约是其母体材料内的5倍以上.这表明相互连通的孔道网络结构非常有利于客体分子在其内扩散.光催化降解性能评价结果显示,罗丹明B与亚甲基蓝在相互连通孔道内降解的速率相当高,分别是其在不连通孔道内的5.1和5.3倍.这充分证明孔道三维相互连通对活性的大幅提高起了关键作用.我们对材料的稳定性和重复使用性作了评价,经过10次循环使用孔道三维相互连通锐钛矿TiO2-SiO2纳米复合介孔材料,其吸附与光催化降解罗丹明B的性能变化不大.这充分证明本文制备的孔道连通复合介孔材料的性能是相当稳定的和可重复使用的.该方法可用于制备具有超高性能的孔道三维相互连通其它金属氧化物基介孔材料,如Nb2O5, Ta2O5等.     

Magnetic mesoporous carbon for efficient removal of organic pollutants

Carbon materials such as activated carbons have been used in the field of water and wastewater treatments. However, the lack of mesopore and, particularly, the difficulty in recovering the spent carbon limited their applications. In this work, magnetic mesoporous carbon microspheres were synthesized by impregnating iron oxide precursors in the mesoporous carbon followed by the in situ conversion of the precursors into magnetite nanoparticles. The as-synthesized carbon microspheres with a high surface area of 742?m²/g and large mesopores of ～4.4?nm exhibited an excellent adsorption capacity for aqueous organic pollutants. The superparamagnetic microspheres with a saturation magnetization of 7.15 emu/g can be easily separated from the treated solution by external magnetic field.     

Intermetallic PdBi aerogels with improved catalytic performance for the degradation of organic pollutants in water

It is always highly pursued to develop efficient and durable catalysts for catalytic applications. Herein, intermetallic PdBi aerogels with tunable activity were prepared successfully via a surfactant-free spontaneous gelation process. The prepared PdBi aerogels have a three-dimensional high porous structure and plentiful active sites pervaded on the ultrathin interlinked nanowires network. These unique structures, as well as the synergistic effect between Pd and Bi, can accelerate mass and electron transfer, and improve the atom utilization ratio of Pd atoms to promote the catalytic efficiency. As a proof-of-concept application, the optimized Pd₂Bi₁ aerogels exhibit 4.2 and 6.2 times higher catalytic activity for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and methylene blue (MB) than those of commercial Pd/C, respectively. With the introduction of non-noble metal of Bi, the cost of the resulted PdBi aerogels can be dropped significantly while the catalytic capability of PdBi aerogel will be improved sharply. This strategy will bring good hints to rationally design fine catalysts for various applications.     

Solvothermal synthesis of well-defined TiO(2) mesoporous nanotubes with enhanced photocatalytic activity

High efficiency TiO(2) photocatalyst in porous nanotubes were prepared by solvothermal alcoholysis of TiOSO(4) in the presence of carbon nanotube template.     

Effects of electron transfer between TiO2 films and conducting substrates on the photocatalytic oxidation of organic pollutants

TiO2 films on Al alloy (Al), indium-tin oxide glass (ITO/glass), and glass were prepared by a dip-coating method. ITO is found to have a higher work function, while the work function for Al is lower than that of TiO2 films. An electron transfer is indicated to occur in the interfaces between TiO2 films and conducting substrate Al or ITO, which results in an Ohm contact or Schottky barrier under the transient equilibrium UV radiation conditions. Photocatalytic measurements showed that the TiO2 films on Al have a higher activity for photocatalytic oxidation of C2H4, but the activity for photocatalytic degradation of oleic acid is lower as compared with TiO2 films on glass. Alternatively, TiO2 films on ITO give completely contrary photocatalytic performance to those on Al. These observations could be associated with the electron transfer, in which Al acts as an electron donor and offers electrons to TiO2, allowing photocatalytic oxidation of ethylene to proceed by the photogenerated electrons, while ITO could be an acceptor for the photogenerated electrons, which is beneficial to photocatalytic degradation of oleic acid by the photogenerated holes. This electron-transfer model could be extended to other photocatalytic systems.