Synthesis,Characterization, and Photocatalytic Properties of Ag/TiO2 Composite Nanofibers Prepared by Electrospinning

Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) embedded titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanofibers were fabricated by colloidal sol process, electrospinning, and calcination technique. Calcination of the electrospun nanofibers were heat treated at 600°C for 180 minutes in air atmosphere. X-ray diffraction patterns exhibited that the anatase phase and silver coexisted in the resulted Ag NPs/TiO₂ nanofibers; transmission electron microscopy demonstrated Ag NPs well spread in the porous microstructure of composite fibers. The prepared nanofibers were utilized as photocatalyst for degradation of methyl orange. The degradation rate of methyl orange dye solution containing Ag/TiO₂ composite nanofibers is 99% only after irradiation for 3 hours. It is proposed that these new Ag NPs/TiO₂ composite nanofibers will have potential application in water pollution treatment.      

Synthesis of N-TiO2: Stability and Visible Light Activity for Aqueous Styrene Degradation

Nitrogen-doped TiO₂ (N-TiO₂) were prepared by the impregnation method using urea as a nitrogen source and TiO₂-P25 as precursor. N-TiO₂ was characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–vis diffusion reflectance spectra (UV–vis DRS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. XPS analysis indicates the incorporation of nitrogen in TiO₂ lattice as O–Ti–N linkage. DRS spectra reveal the extended absorption to the visible range. Photocatalytic performance of the N-TiO₂ was studied by testing the degradation rate of aqueous styrene under visible light. Also, the degradation kinetics of aqueous styrene and possibility of cyclic usage of N-TiO₂ were investigated.     

Formation of Particle Coated Fusiform Droplets via Lowering Interface Tension with Polyaluminum Sulfate

It was found that the interface tension between water and alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA) was significantly reduced by polyaluminum sulfate (PAS), increased considerably though by TiO₂ nanoparticle. PAS with basicity of 0.75 (PAS-0.75) reduced the interface tension to a larger extent than PAS with basicity of 0.3 (PAS-0.3). By reducing interface tension with PAS-0.75, ASA-in-water emulsion bearing fusiform geometries was constructed. The emulsion stabilized by PAS-0.3 and TiO₂ nanoparticle bore spherical shapes with the exception when mass fraction of TiO₂ nanoparticle was low, in which case fused nonspherical drops were formed. Forming nonspherical emulsion crucially depends on ASA-water interface tension, where a critical interface tension was identified to be 0.6–0.7 mN/m. The fusiform geometries were transformed into spherical shapes when interface tension was higher than 0.7 mN/m. Both the lowering mechanism of the interface tension and the formation mechanism of the fusiform emulsion were proposed.      

Photocatalytic Degradation of Styrene in Aqueous Solution: Central Composite Design Optimization

In this study, the response surface methodology was first applied to optimize the photocatalytic degradation of styrene in aqueous phase under UV/TiO₂ system. Twenty experiments were done by adjusting three parameters (styrene concentration, TiO₂ dose, and pH) at five levels. Optimal experimental conditions for arbitrary aqueous styrene concentration (115 mg L^?1) were found: initial pH 7 and TiO₂ loading 2 g L^?1 with photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 79.2%. Furthermore, the main degradation intermediate produced was identified by GC/MS. The total organic carbon results revealed that the photocatalysis process could be effectively mineralized. Kinetics of the photocatalytic reaction followed a pseudo-first-order model.     

Effects of Magnetic Nanofluid Fuel Combustion on the Performance and Emission Characteristics

Although the compression ignition engines are a significant source of power, their detrimental emissions create considerable problems to the environment as well as to humans. The objective of the present experimental investigation is to examine the effects of the magnetic nanofluid fuels on combustion performance characteristics and exhaust emissions. In this regard, the Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles dispersed in the diesel fuel with the nanoparticle concentrations of 0.4 and 0.8 vol% were employed for combustion in a single-cylinder, direct-injection diesel engine. After a series of experiments, it was demonstrated that the nanoparticle additives, even at very low concentrations, have considerable influence in diesel engine characteristics. Furthermore, the results indicated that the nanofluid fuel with nanoparticle concentration of 0.4 vol% shows better combustion characteristics in comparison with that of 0.8 vol%. Based on the experimental results, NO _x and SO₂ emissions dramatically reduce, while CO emissions and smoke opacity noticeably increase with increasing the dosing level of nanoparticles.     

Effect of the Structure of Small Anatase Nanoparticles on the Localization of Photogenerated Charge Carriers

The structure of nanoparticles and the spatial arrangement of photogenerated thermalized charge carriers are studied for a series of isomers of small anatase nanoparticles (TiO₂)₂₉(H₂O)₄, (TiO₂)₇₀(H₂O)₄, and (TiO₂)₇₀ with faces (001) and (101) on the surface. It is shown that the location of surface hydroxyl groups and their replacement by surface oxygen atoms affect the nature and degree of deformation of the nanoparticle structure. The location of the boundary orbitals depends both on the size of the nanoparticles and on the location of the hydroxyl groups, as well as on the degree of dehydroxylation, which leads to the replacement of the hydroxyl groups by the surface oxygen atoms. In the case of a certain arrangement of hydroxyl groups or surface oxygen atoms, uncharged small stoichiometric anatase nanoparticles begin to absorb light in the visible region of the spectrum (the band gap width E_g decreasing to 2.25 eV). This is associated with the energy levels at the edge of the band gap near the valence band and the conduction band.     

TiO2/carbon nanotube hybrid nanostructures: Solvothermal synthesis and their visible light photocatalytic activity

MWCNT/TiO₂ hybrid nanostructures were prepared via solvothermal synthesis and sol-gel method with benzyl alcohol as a surfactant. As-prepared hybrid materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed that MWCNTs were uniformly decorated with anatase nanocrystals in solvothermal condition, but MWCNTs were embedded in a majority of TiO₂ nanoparticles by sol-gel method. When the weight ratio of MWCNTs to TiO₂ was 20%, MWCNT/TiO₂ hybrid nanostructures prepared by solvothermal synthesis exhibited higher visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity than that prepared by sol-gel method. Post-annealing of MWCNT/TiO₂ nanostructures at 400 °C resulted in the formation of the carbonaceous Ti-C bonds on the interface between TiO₂ and MWCNTs, which enhanced the photoabsorbance of the hybrid materials in the visible light region and improved the visible-light degradation efficiency of methylene blue.     

PMMA films refractive index modulation via TiO2 nanoparticle inclusions and corona poling

The present study is focused on the characterization of optical properties of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films and the possibilities of modulation and fine tuning of their refractive index by the inclusion of different concentrations of nano-sized titanium dioxide (TiO₂) particles (less than 33 nm) and corona poling. The samples are prepared by the “spin coating” method and they are charged in a conventional point-to-plain corona system. The transparent PMMA/TiO₂ films exhibit good optical properties in the visible range. An investigation of the film’s surface refractive index by two wavelengths laser refractometry utilizing the disappearing diffraction pattern method is carried out. The refractive index increases with increasing the TiO₂ content in the nanocomposite films. The corona poling increases the refractive index values for all samples regardless of the polarity and concentration of TiO₂ nanoparticles. The results show that the prepared nanocomposite films have a potential application for optical devices.     

Supramolecular nanostructured assemblies of different types of porphyrins with fullerene using TiO2 nanoparticles for light energy conversion

TiO₂ nanoparticles were modified with porphyrin derivatives, 5-[4-benzoic acid]-10,15,20-tris[3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl]-21H,23H-porphyrin (Ar-H₂P-COOH), 5-[4-benzoic acid]-10,20-tris[3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl]-21H,23H-porphyrin (H-H₂P-COOH), and 5,10,15,20-tetra[4-benzoic acid]-21H,23H-porphyrin (H₂P-4COOH). The porphyrin-modified TiO₂ nanoparticles were deposited on nanostructured OTE/SnO₂ electrode together with nanoclusters of fullerene (C₆₀) in acetonitrile-toluene (3/1, v/v) using an electrophoretic deposition technique to afford the porphyrin-modified TiO₂ composite electrode denoted as OTE/SnO₂/(porphyrin-modified TiO₂ nanoparticle+C₆₀)_n. The porphyrin-modified TiO₂ composite electrodes have efficient light absorbing properties in the visible region, exhibiting the photoactive response under visible light excitation using redox couple. The incident photon-to-photocurrent efficiency (IPCE) values of supramolecular nanostructured electrodes of porphyrin-modified TiO₂ nanoparticles with fullerene [OTE/SnO₂/(Ar-H₂P-COO-TiO₂+C₆₀)_n, OTE/SnO₂/(H-H₂P-COO-TiO₂+C₆₀)_n, and OTE/SnO₂/(H₂P-4COO-TiO₂+C₆₀)_n] are much larger than those of the reference systems of porphyrin-modified TiO₂ nanoparticles without C₆₀ [OTE/SnO₂/(Ar-H₂P-COO-TiO₂)_n, OTE/SnO₂/(H-H₂P-COO-TiO₂)_n, and OTE/SnO₂/(H₂P-4COO-TiO₂)_n]. In particular, the maximum IPCE value (41%) is obtained for OTE/SnO₂/(H-H₂P-COO-TiO₂+C₆₀)_n under the bias potential of 0.2 V versus SCE. This indicates that the formation of supramolecular complexes between porphyrins and fullerene on TiO₂ nanoparticles plays an important role in improvement of the light energy conversion properties.     

Removal of Phenol Dyes Using a Photocatalytic Reactor with SnO2/Fe3O4 Nanoparticles

In this study, we present kinetics of phenol dyes removal by SnO₂/Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles in a photocatalytic reactor for optimization of this process. The effect of different concentrations of SnO₂ 5, 10, 15, 20% w/w on the photocatalytic reactor during removal of phenol red was investigated. The SnO₂/Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were synthesized by core–shell method. The results of XRD and TEM showed the successful synthesis of these nanoparticles. Several other methods were applied to synthesis of these nanoparticles but none of them succeeded. This process composed of two-stage. The first stage was absorption by iron oxide nanoparticles and second stage was photocatalytic by tin oxide nanoparticles that followed pseudo-second-order kinetic and first-order kinetic, respectively. Optimization of this process was done corresponding to the parameters affecting the process with design expert software. In order to determine the optimal values of each of the parameters and the optimal conditions of the process, parameters were introduced to response surface methodology.     

Synthesis and visible light photocatalysis of Fe-doped TiO2 mesoporous layers deposited on hollow glass microbeads

Nano-composite of Fe-doped anatase TiO₂ nanocrystals loaded on the hollow glass microbeads was prepared by co-thermal hydrolysis deposition and calcining treatment. The adherence of TiO₂ mesoporous layers to the surfaces of hollow glass microbeads prevented the aggregation of TiO₂ nanoparticles and benefited to their catalytic activity. The doping of Fe ions makes the absorption edge of the TiO₂ based nano-composite red-shifted into the visible region. An effective photodegradation of the methyl orange aqueous solution was achieved under visible light (λ>420 nm) irradiation, revealing the potential applicability of such nano-composite in some industry fields, such as air and water purifications.     

Pressure Drop and Performance Characteristics of Water-Based Al2O3 and CuO Nanofluids in a Triangular Duct

An experimental study is performed to determine the pressure drop and performance characteristics of Al₂O₃/water and CuO/water nanofluids in a triangular duct under constant heat flux where the flow is laminar. The effects of adding nanoparticles to the base fluid on the pressure drop and friction factor are investigated at different Reynolds numbers. The results show that at a specified Reynolds number, using the nanofluids can lead to an increase in the pressure drop by 35%. It is also found that with increases in the Reynolds number, the rate of increase in the friction factor with the volume fraction of nanoparticles is reduced. Finally, the performance characteristics of the two nanofluids are investigated using the data of pressure drop and convective heat transfer coefficient. The results show that the use of Al₂O₃/water nanofluid with volume fractions of 1.5% and 2% is not helpful in the triangular duct. It is also concluded that at the same volume fraction of nanoparticles, using Al₂O₃ nanoparticles is more beneficial than CuO nanoparticles based on the performance index.     

Mechanism of the formation of photosensitive nanostructured TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> with low content of CdS nanoparticles

A method for synthesizing a CdS/TiO₂ composite material, active in the visible region, was described. The CdS/TiO₂ composite was obtained by the sol–gel synthesis of nanostructured TiO₂ in a medium of a stable colloidal solution of CdS nanoparticles. The TiO₂ matrix produced by the sol–gel process is amorphous and contains a nanocrystalline anatase phase, the content of which depends on the Ti(OBu)₄ hydrolysis rate. The content of CdS nanoparticles forming in the colloidal solution and participating in the TiO₂ matrix sensitization is determined by the initial CdS: Ti(OBu)₄ ratio. Although the content of CdS nanoparticles in the composite is low (no more than 3 wt %), the composite demonstrates catalytic activity in the visible region, thus proving the possibility of reducing the content of toxic CdS nanoparticles in the TiO₂ matrix without decreasing the photosensitivity of the CdS/TiO₂ composite.     

Visible-light photocatalytic activity of the metastable Bi20TiO32 synthesized by a high-temperature quenching method

Metastable Bi₂₀TiO₃₂ samples were synthesized by a high-temperature quenching method using α-Bi₂O₃ and anatase TiO₂ as raw materials. The photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared samples was measured with the photodegradation of methyl orange at room temperature under visible light irradiation. The Bi₂₀TiO₃₂ samples exhibited good absorption in the visible light region with a band gap of about 2.38 eV and the band structure of Bi₂₀TiO₃₂ was studied. Photodegradation against methyl orange was much better than α-Bi₂O₃ prepared by the same way. The photocatalytic activity of Bi₂₀TiO₃₂ samples is supposed to be associated with the hybridized Bi 6s and O 2p orbitals. In addition, the dispersive characteristic of Bi 6s orbital in the hybridized valence band facilitates the mobility of the photogenerated carriers and hampers their recombination.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Powders Prepared Under Different Gelling and Pressure Conditions

Homogeneous TiO₂ gel powders were prepared by hydrolysis and condensation of titanium(IV) isopropoxide with HCl or SnCl₂ catalysts, by working under reduced pressure or in air. Ti(IV) alkoxide was previously modified by reaction with formic or acetic acid, used as chelating ligands, when gelation was performed in acidic catalysis. Crude TiO₂ xerogels were purified by water reflux treatment in order to induce a low temperature crystallisation to the anatase phase. Both crude and purified TiO₂ samples were characterised by XRD, FT-IR, SEM, and N₂ adsorption analysis. Thermoanalyses (TG, DTA, DTG, TG-MS, TG-GC-MS) were carried out to quantify the residual organic components in the crude TiO₂ gels and to obtain stoichiometric formulas to describe their chemical compositions. XRD data of purified TiO₂ powders were processed by means of a Rietveld refinement procedure to determine TiO₂ polymorphs, crystallite sizes and cell parameters, before their use in photocatalytic tests. The photoactivity of the purified TiO₂ anatase powders was studied by using 4-nitrophenol degradation as probe reaction carried out in a batch and/or a membrane photoreactor. Samples prepared by using formic acid or SnCl₂ were the most photoactive, whereas specimens gelled under vacuum treatment showed detrimental effects.