Enhanced visible-light photoactivity of La-doped ZnS thin films

ZnS and La-doped ZnS thin films were successfully synthesized using chemical-bath deposition on conductive glass substrates. The effects of La-doping on the surface morphology, composition, structure and optical properties of the films were investigated. The photocatalytic performances of undoped and doped ZnS films were evaluated by photodegrading methyl orange aqueous solution under both ultraviolet-light and visible-light irradiation. The results show that the stoichiometry ratio and the properties of ZnS can be tailored by the La-doping concentration. An appropriate amount of La-doping effectively extends the absorption edge to visible-light region, which leads to the significant enhancement of the photocatalytic activity of ZnS thin films under visible-light irradiation. The mechanism of enhanced visible-light photoactivity by La-doping is briefly discussed. The present study provides a simple method for designing the highly efficient semiconductor photocatalysts that can effectively utilize sunlight.     

水热法制备In2O3/ZnO异质结及其高的光催化性能

采用简单的两步水热法合成了不同In₂O₃质量比的In₂O₃/ZnO异质结复合材料．通过X射线衍射仪(XRD)、紫外-可见分光光度计(UV-vis)和扫描电子显微镜(SEM)对复合材料的结构、形貌和性能进行了表征．同时还使用UV-vis分光光度计测试了异质结降解罗丹明B(RhB)的光催化活性．实验结果表明,与纯ZnO和In₂O₃相比,In₂O₃的引入将ZnO的吸收光谱扩展到可见光区域,从而提高了其光生电子和空穴的分离．此外,In₂O₃/ZnO异质结在可见光照射对RhB具有较高的光催化活性．5 wt%-In₂O₃/ZnO异质结对RhB的降解率为84.3%,且具有良好的光催化稳定性．In₂O₃/ZnO异质结复合材料在有机染料废水的降解中有更广阔的应用前景．     

A New Insight of the Photothermal Effect on the Highly Efficient Visible‐Light‐Driven Photocatalytic Performance of Novel‐Designed TiO2 Rambutan‐Like Microspheres Decorated by Au Nanorods

Photocatalyst‐assisted degradation of organic pollutants, which exhibits a novel strategy for solar‐energy utilization, possesses enormous potential in various applications. Extending the light‐absorption range in the spectrum of sunlight and improving light‐conversion efficiency are always primary issues to enhance the catalytic performance of these photocatalysts. Herein, a new structure of gold‐nanorod‐decorated TiO₂ rambutan‐like microspheres is designed, which exhibits superior photocatalytic ability toward Rhodamine B in the range of visible light due to the 3D distribution of the TiO₂ branches on the surface of the microspheres, which prompts the multireflection of photons. The absorption rate of photons is thereby tremendously enhanced. This is beneficial for the generation of hot electrons originating from the localized surface plasmonic resonance of Au nanorods, which can be used to both initiate the reaction and produce the photothermal effect. Hot electrons generated by a single Au nanorod in microspheres to initiate the degradation reaction can be as high as 2.5 times of those in the nanowires' counterpart. Moreover, the heating power of a single Au nanorod in microspheres reaches up to 4.4 times higher than that in nanowires, which further accelerates the degradation rate. The reaction pathway of visible‐light‐assisted RhB degradation catalyzed by Au/TiO₂ microspheres goes through an initial N‐deethylation process instead of the complete cycloreversion catalyzed by pure TiO₂ microspheres under UV irradiation. This strategy of structure design for improved photon absorption, which achieves high degradation rate and photothermal effect, is promising for the development of novel photocatalysts.     

Enhanced photocatalytic activity of graphene–TiO2 composite under visible light irradiation

Novel graphene–TiO₂ (GR–TiO₂) composite photocatalysts were synthesized by hydrothermal method. During the hydrothermal process, both the reduction of graphene oxide and loading of TiO₂ nanoparticles on graphene were achieved. The structure, surface morphology, chemical composition and optical properties of composites were studied using XRD, TEM, XPS, DRS and PL spectroscopy. The absorption edge of TiO₂ shifted to visible-light region with increasing amount of graphene in the composite samples. The photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) was carried out using graphene–TiO₂ composite catalysts in order to study the photocatalytic efficiency. The results showed that GR–TiO₂ composites can efficiently photodegrade MO, showing an enhanced photocatalytic activity over pure TiO₂ under visible-light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the composite catalysts might be attributed to great adsorptivity of dyes, extended light absorption range and efficient charge separation due to giant π-conjugation system and two-dimensional planar structure of graphene.     

共聚改性g-C3N4-N可见光催化降解RhB的研究

染料废水的排放对人类健康和生态系统构成严重威胁,光催化技术因其操作简单、绿色环保等优点在解决环境污染问题上已显示出巨大的潜力。类石墨相氮化碳（g-C₃N₄）由于成本低且具有良好的化学稳定性,被认为是光催化领域最有前景的新型光催化剂之一,但由于单一g-C₃N₄的比表面积小、可见光吸收能力低、光生电子-空穴复合率高影响了其光催化性能。以邻氨基苯甲腈和尿素为原料,通过高温共聚改性制备高催化活性的g-C₃N₄-N光催化剂,研究g-C₃N₄-N在不同pH值、g-C₃N₄-N投加量和RhB溶液浓度条件下对RhB光催化降解的影响,并结合红外光谱、XRD、BET、UV-Vis对g-C₃N₄-N光催化降解RhB的机理和染料降解路径进行解析。结果表明,经共聚改性制备的碳化氮为类石墨型纯相g-C₃N₄-N,具有稳定的光催化活性、大的比表面积和多孔结构,在初始pH值为3时,加入50 mg的g-C₃N₄-N在可见光条件下光催化降解10 mg·L-1 的RhB可达到最好的光催化降解效果,RhB在暗反应30 min内的吸附去除率可达30%左右,120 min的去除率达到97.7%。在光催化作用下,g-C₃N₄-N将吸附在光催化剂表面的罗丹明B分子通过快速N-脱乙基过程形成DER、EER和AR等大分子中间体,它们在空穴与·OH和·O-₂作用下,共轭结构裂解、开环,生成丁二酸、间苯二酚、丙酸等小分子,脱除的乙基被逐步氧化为乙二醇,这些小分子可以被转化为CO₂和H₂O。     

Synthesis,characterization and excellent photocatalytic activity of Ag/AgBr/MoO3 composite photocatalyst

A novel composite photocatalyst Ag/AgBr/MoO₃ was successfully synthesized via a simple precipitation method at room temperature. The obtained products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in detail. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was evaluated by monitoring the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) solution under visible-light irradiation. The results showed that the photocatalytic activity of Ag/AgBr/MoO₃ composite significantly enhanced and the degradation ratio of RhB reached 97.7 % after 15 min only. The excellent photocatalytic activity might be closely related to the large surface area, porosity structure and efficient separation of photoinduced electron–hole pairs. The possible reaction mechanism was also discussed.     

分光光度法研究插层膨润土负载掺氮TiO2光催化剂对亚甲基蓝的光降解

采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了具有高活性的可见光响应插层膨润土负载掺氮TiO₂光催化剂（以下简称光催化剂）。利用IR对光催化剂的微观结构进行表征,并以亚甲基蓝为目标降解物,讨论了光催化剂在可见光下的催化活性。结果表明:氮掺杂TiO₂成功负载于插层膨润土片层表面。在尿素掺杂量为0.35g和催化剂用量为40mg条件下,光催化剂对25mL初始浓度为5mg/L的亚甲基蓝溶液的降解率可达99%。     

Graphene-based hollow TiO2 composites with enhanced photocatalytic activity for removal of pollutants

Catalytically active graphene-based hollow TiO₂ composites(TiO₂/RGO) were successfully synthesized via the solvothermal method. Hollow TiO₂ microspheres are uniformly dispersed on RGO. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and photoluminescence (PL) were used for the characterization of prepared photocatalysts. The mass of GO was optimized in the photocatalytic removal of rhodamine B (RhB) as a model dye pollutants. The results showed that graphene-based hollow TiO₂ composites exhibit a significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity in degradation of RhB under either UV or visible light irradiation. The formation of the graphene-based hollow TiO₂ composites and the photocatalytic mechanisms under UV and visible light were also discussed.     

BiOCl1-xIx及BiOBr1-xIx固体溶液的制备、表征及性能研究

在太阳光照射下,利用半导体光催化去除污染物是最绿色、有效的方法之一,其核心问题是获得高效光催化剂。目前研究最多的光催化剂是TiO₂和ZnO等,但由于其禁带宽度大故不能充分利用太阳光,从而限制了其实际使用。除了对TiO₂等改性以改进其可见光催化活性外,开发其他材料作为光催化剂也是解决的重要途径。铋基化合物半导体由于原材料丰富、种类多、太阳光响应性好及优良的光催化活性而成为重要研究对象。其中卤氧铋系化合物[BiOX, X=Cl, Br, I]由于层状结构特点而具有良好的光催化活性,但单独使用时光催化效率较低。研究表明,BiOX间能通过形成固体溶液(即彼此呈分子分散的固体混合物)进一步改善其光催化降解污染物的能力。本文利用低温湿化学法,以Bi₂O₃为铋源,在醋酸溶液中加入一定比例的KI/KBr或KI/KCl水溶液,室温下反应0.5 h,分别得到片状结构的BiOCl_1-xI_x和BiOBr_1-xI_x固体溶液。X射线衍射(X-ray diffraction, XRD)分析结果表明,所合成的BiOCl_1-xI_x和BiOBr_1-xI_x样品结晶性良好,且能在x=0～1的范围内形成固体溶液。透射电子显微镜(transmission electron microscope, TEM)测得所制备的固体溶液呈不规则的薄片状。X射线光电子能谱(X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, XPS)测试进一步证明了其表面元素组成及化学状态。紫外-可见漫反射光谱(diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, DRS)分析表明,随着碘元素含量的增加,固体溶液的吸收边界发生红移、禁带宽度减小,故可见光吸收能力增强、产生的载流子数目将增加。在可见光激发下对甲基橙(methyl orange, MO)降解的光催化性能研究表明,BiOCl_0.25I_0.75及BiOBr_0.25I_0.75拥有最高的光催化活性。循环实验表明,BiOCl_0.25I_0.75及BiOBr_0.25I_0.75都具有较高稳定性。光催化机理研究发现,这些卤氧铋样品光催化降解MO过程中的活性物种主要为空穴和超氧离子自由基。结合其能带结构,认为固体溶液的形成不但增加了可见光吸收能力,而且调变了其能带结构,相对于BiOI而言,固体溶液的形成降低了价带电位,提高了导带电位,因而增强了光生电子的还原能力及空穴的氧化能力,故催化性能提高。该工作的创新之处在于：采用的固体溶液制备方法,避免了高温水热法或加入表面活性剂等,而且所制备的BiOCl_1-xI_x和BiOBr_1-xI_x固体溶液,尤其是BiOCl_0.25I_0.75和BiOBr_0.25I_0.75,在可见光激发下对MO具有良好的降解能力,且催化剂的重复使用及稳定性良好,有望在环境治理中得到应用。     

水热法合成BiVO4可见光催化剂

采用水热法,无需添加剂,在180℃通过调控pH值制备了不同结构和形貌的BiVO4可见光催化剂。利用XRD、SEM等手段对样品进行表征。结果表明,水热反应液pH值对BiVO4的晶相与形貌均有很大影响,pH为4时制备的片状BiVO4对亚甲基蓝的降解率最高（4h达91.79%）。     

Core–Shell Structured Nanocomposites for Photocatalytic Selective Organic Transformations

Core–shell structured nanocomposites, a type of talented functional materials with unique microstructure and properties, have shown great promise as photocatalysts for various applications, including photocatalytic degradation of pollutants, water splitting for hydrogen production, and selective organic transformations. The synthesis and utilization of efficient core–shell nanoarchitectured photocatalysts for selective organic synthesis are at the center of our research efforts and the focus of this minireview. Specifically, semiconductor‐based core–shell nanocomposites, including metal–semiconductor, semiconductor–semiconductor, semiconductor–shell (graphene and SiO₂) as photocatalysts/cocatalysts for selective oxidation of alcohols, reduction of nitro organics and carbon dioxide for synthesis of fine chemicals, and redox‐combined selective synthesis of pipecolinic acid are summarized. It is hoped that this minireview can make a contribution to catalyzing the development of smart core–shell nanostructures in the field of photocatalytic selective organic transformations for solar energy conversion.     

硫和银共掺杂介孔TiO2的制备、表征及其对染料的光催化降解活性

以P123为模板,以钛酸四正丁酯、硝酸银和硫脲为原料采用模板法制备了一系列硫和银共掺杂介孔TiO₂光催化材料．利用SEM、XRD、BET和紫外-可见光谱等技术对其形貌、晶体结构及表面结构、光吸收特性等进行了表征．以甲基橙溶液的光催化降解为模型反应,考察了不同掺杂量的样品在紫外和可见光下的光催化性能．结果表明,用模板法制备的共掺杂介孔TiO₂光催化材料在紫外和可见光条件下较纯介孔TiO₂和单掺杂介孔TiO₂对甲基橙溶液具有更好的光催化降解效果, 且硫和银的掺杂量及样品焙烧温度显著影响该材料的催化性能．当硫掺杂量为2mol%和银掺杂量为1mol%,在500 oC 焙烧2 h所得光催化材料的催化性能最佳,4 h即可使甲基橙的降解率达98.8%,重复使用4次仍可使甲基橙的降解率保持在87.5%以上     

原位低场核磁共振弛豫法定量监测光催化Cr(Ⅵ)还原反应

本文利用原位低场核磁共振（LF-NMR）技术在真实固液反应环境中对光催化还原Cr（Ⅵ）反应进行了定量研究,并对Ag纳米颗粒负载量不同的Ag担载石墨相氮化碳复合光催化剂（Ag/g-C₃N₄）在可见光照射下催化Cr（Ⅵ）还原为Cr（Ⅲ）的性能进行了研究.研究发现,Ag纳米颗粒负载（负载量分别为1 wt.%、2 wt.%、5 wt.%和10 wt.%）可以有效提高g-C₃N₄的光催化性能;且负载量为5 wt.%时光催化性能最优,为无Ag负载的g-C₃N₄的4倍.此外,本文还通过横向弛豫时间（T₂）定量分析了反应体系中顺磁性Cr（Ⅲ）离子的浓度,证实了采用LF-NMR弛豫法评价光催化Cr（Ⅵ）还原反应性能的可行性.     

Studies of photo-induced charge transfer properties of ZnWO4 photocatalyst

Different sizes of ZnWO₄ photocatalysts were synthesized by a hydrothermal method. The as-prepared sample shows highly efficient photocatalytic activity for the degradation of RhB under UV irradiation, which significantly vary with the increase of the hydrothermal temperatures. Surface photovoltage spectrum (SPS), field-induced surface photovoltage spectrum (FI-SPS) and surface photovoltage transient (TPV) techniques are used to investigate the detailed photoinduced charge transfer behavior. Results indicate that the ZnWO₄ synthesized at 413 K possess the largest BET surface area and the abundant donor surface states which are assumed to inhibit the recombination of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs, and thus a significant enhancement in the reaction rate is observed.     

Hierarchical nanostructured 3D flowerlike BiOX particles with excellent visible-light photocatalytic activity

BiOX (X = Cl, Br, and I) semiconductors were firstly prepared by a facile mixed solvent solvothermal route. Several characterization tools were employed to study the phase structures, morphologies, and optical properties of the samples. The in situ chemically mixed prepared BiOX particles with diameters 3.0–5.0 μm, fabricated by nanoplates in the thickness range of 5–18 nm, exhibited the highest visible-light photocatalytic activity among the as-prepared samples and Degussa P₂₅ for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB). This result can be due to the narrow bandgap, broad sunlight range, high electronic negativity, and efficient separation of photoinduced electron–hole pairs. Finally, a possible photocatalytic mechanism has been proposed.     

Metal Nanoparticle Photocatalysts: Synthesis,Characterization, and Application

Metal nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as a kind of new photocatalyst to drive various chemical reactions by visible‐light irradiation. A distinct advantage of metal NP photocatalysts is that their light absorption is not limited to a certain wavelength but instead they are able to utilize a broad range of wavelengths, constituting a large fraction of the solar spectrum. Metal NPs like gold, silver, and copper NPs can strongly absorb visible light due to the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect. Recent developments have shown that the light absorption properties strongly depend on the shape, size, and particle–particle interactions of NPs, which directly influence their photocatalytic activities. In this review, an overview of the preparation of metal NPs photocatalysts with various morphologies is given along with a brief discussion of the relationship between the morphology/composition and optical properties. The latest photocatalytic applications of these morphologies are also presented, and some of the challenges for the development of metal NPs photocatalysts are provided.     

Characterization and Photocatalytic Performance of Rb+-Doped TiO2 Photocatalysts

ABSTRACT

Rb⁺-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles with higher photocatalytic activity were prepared by sol–gel method. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX), and surface area (BET) measurements. The photocatalytic activity for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) was evaluated. The effects of calcination temperature, Rb⁺-doping amount, and the dosage of catalyst in the reaction liquid were investigated. The results showed that Rb⁺ doping can inhibit phase transformation from anatase to rutile, increase surface area of TiO₂ crystals, and reduce crystallite size. TiO₂ doped with 1% Rb⁺ and calcined at 650°C shows much higher photoactivity than the others when the doping level of Rb⁺ and calcination temperature are 0–5% and 350–850°C, respectively. The kinetics of the degradation of RhB was also analyzed. The kinetics of this reaction fits the pseudo first-order kinetics model well, and the reaction rate constants for pure TiO₂ and Rb1-650 are 0.086 min^?1 and 0.226 min^?1 respectively. Doping with Rb⁺ improves the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ significantly.     

Enhancement of the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanoparticles by surface-capping DBS groups

TiO₂ nanoparticles capped with sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBS) are synthesized by a sol-hydrothermal process using tetrabutyl titanate and DBS as raw materials. The effects of surface-capping DBS on the surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPS), photoluminescence (PL) and photocatalytic performance of TiO₂ nanoparticles are principally investigated together with their relationships. The results show that the surface of TiO₂ nanoparticles can be well capped by DBS groups while the pH value and added DBS amount are controlled at 5.0 and 2% of TiO₂ mass weight, respectively, and the linkage between DBS groups and TiO₂ surfaces is mainly by means of quasi-sulphonate bond. The intensities of SPS and PL spectra of TiO₂ obviously decrease after DBS-capping, while the activity can greatly increase during the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) solution, which are mainly attributed to the electron-withdrawing character of the DBS groups. Moreover, the enhancement of photocatalytic activity of DBS-capped TiO₂ is also related to the increase in the capability for adsorbing RhB.     

三氧化钨/氧化银复合材料的水热法合成及其光催化降解性能研究

染料污染是水污染中最严重的问题之一,吸引了很多科学家的关注.人们尝试了很多方法去解决该问题,如化学氧化法、物理吸附法、光催化降解法和生物降解法等.与其他几种方法相比,光催化法有着低能耗、环保以及高效等优势.三氧化钨是常见的半导体材料,具有独特的光学性能,近年来受到了广泛的研究.本文以钨酸钠和硫脲为前驱体,通过水热法制备了三氧化钨/氧化银(WO_3/Ag_2O)复合材料,并用光催化降解亚甲基蓝来分析其光催化性能.通过X射线光电子能谱、X射线衍射、透射电子显微镜、扫描电子显微镜、紫外可见吸收光谱等表征手段对样品的形貌、晶格结构和光催化的性能进行表征.氧化银的带宽为1.2 e V,对可见光很敏感,三氧化钨和氧化银的复合使材料在可见光下的光催化活性显著增强,在可见光下对亚甲基蓝染料的光降解率可以达到98%.实验结果表明,复合材料中的三氧化钨纳米棒为六方相,其平均直径约为200 nm,平均长度约为4μm.而复合材料中的氧化银纳米颗粒为六方相,附着在氧化钨纳米棒的表面,平均晶粒尺寸为20 nm.氧化银的存在为复合材料提供了更多的反应活性位点.相较于单一组分,复合材料在可见光下的光吸收度更高,这说明三氧化钨和氧化银的复合改变了材料的能带结构.研究发现,三氧化钨和氧化银之间形成的异质结构是其优良光催化性能的来源.此外,三氧化钨和氧化银复合材料还具有良好的催化稳定性和化学稳定性.本文结果表明,可以通过给宽带隙的半导体材料复合一些带隙合适的金属氧化物以提升其光催化活性.     

Dose–dependent biodistribution of prenatal exposure to rutile-type titanium dioxide nanoparticles on mouse testis

Au@TiO₂/graphene (Gr) composite with visible-light response was fabricated. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope, and diffuse reflection spectroscopy, respectively. The results indicated that metallic Au nanoparticles with round shape and about 10 nm in size were loaded on TiO₂ particles uniformly, and Au@TiO₂ was grafted on Gr shaped in thin and big sheets. Photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) was conducted under the visible-light irradiation (>420 nm) in order to evaluate the activity of photocatalysts. The light absorption spectrum of TiO₂ was extended to visible-light region by loading Au nanoparticles with plasmonic effect and 2,4-DCP could be degraded with Au@TiO₂ and Au@TiO₂/Gr by photocatalysis under visible light. Compared to that with Au@TiO₂, the elimination rate of 2,4-DCP was increased with Au@TiO₂/Gr. This enhanced photocatalytic performance was attributed to the concentration effect due to the improved adsorption performance introduced by Gr.