Nitrogen‐doped graphene‐cerium oxide (NG‐CeO2) photocatalyst for the photodegradation of methylene blue in waste water

This study shows a facile approach for the preparation of CeO₂ nanoparticles decorated with porous nitrogen‐doped graphene (NG) nanosheets for effective photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB). NG nanosheets were first synthesized using a hydrothermal method and then nitrogen‐doped graphene‐cerium oxide (NG‐CeO₂) was prepared through mixing of cerium nitrate with different concentrations of NG under ultrasonication followed by hydrothermal treatment. The synthesized nanocomposites were characterized using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM). The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized nanocomposites was analyzed against MB dye. Results showed that the nanocomposites of NG‐CeO₂ have an average particle size of 20 nm. The as‐prepared NG‐CeO₂ nanocomposites exhibited outstanding photocatalytic activity for dye degradation under visible light irradiation, which could be attributed to synergistic effects between the NG nanosheets and CeO₂. The quantum of photodegradation increases with the increase of the NG content in the nanocomposites.     

Novel visible-light-driven photocatalyst of NiO/Cd/g-C3N4 for enhanced degradation of methylene blue

Novel NiO/Cd/g-C₃N₄ photocatalysts were synthesized using a green and straightforward microwave-assisted method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis). The ternary NiO/Cd/g-C₃N₄ nanocomposites were evaluated for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) at room temperature under the visible light irradiation. Experimental results revealed that the weight percent of cadmium had a remarkable effect on the photodegradation efficiency. The NiO/Cd/g-C₃N₄ (0.1%) sample exhibited superior activity in the degradation reaction. The activity of this nanocomposite was about 4.5 and 3.25 fold higher than those of the pure g-C₃N₄ and NiO/g-C₃N₄ samples in the degradation of MB, respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed to the low energy gap, increased absorption capacity of the visible light, and efficient suppression of the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. A detailed photocatalytic mechanism over the nanocomposite of NiO/Cd/g-C₃N₄ (0.1%) was proposed with superoxide radical anion O₂^– as the main reactive species. The stability of the nanocomposite was confirmed after four consecutive runs as well.     

Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue on Fe3+-doped TiO2 nanoparticles under visible light irradiation

Fe³⁺-doped TiO₂ composite nanoparticles with different doping amounts were successfully synthesized using sol-gel method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and ultravioletvisible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue was used as a model reaction to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of Fe³⁺/TiO₂ nanoparticles under visible light irradiation. The influence of doping amount of Fe³⁺ (ω: 0.00%–3.00%) on photocatalytic activities of TiO₂ was investigated. Results show that the size of Fe³⁺/TiO₂ particles decreases with the increase of the amount of Fe³⁺ and their absorption spectra are broaden and absorption intensities are also increased. Doping Fe³⁺ can control the conversion of TiO₂ from anatase to rutile. The doping amount of Fe³⁺ remarkably affects the activity of the catalyst, and the optimum efficiency occurs at about the doping amount of 0.3%. The appropriate doping of Fe³⁺ can markedly increase the catalytic activity of TiO₂ under visible light irradiation. __________ Translated from Journal of Northwest Normal University (Natural Science), 2006, 42(6): 55–56 [译自: 西北师范大学学报(自然科学版)]     

Hydrothermal synthesis and luminescence of CaMO4:RE (M=W, Mo; RE=Eu, Tb) submicro-phosphors

Submicrometer crystalline CaMO₄:RE³⁺ (M=W, Mo; RE=Eu, Tb) phosphors with a sheelite structure have been synthesized via the hydrothermal process, which were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray-excited luminescence (XEL), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-vis DRS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The XRD patterns show that both CaWO₄ and CaMoO₄ have the same structure with space group I41/a. The SEM images indicate that the optimal hydrothermal temperature is 120 °C for the particles that aggregate with the increase of temperature. The bands ranging from 380 to 510 nm in the XEL spectra of CaWO₄:Eu³⁺ can be attributed to the charge transfer state from the excited 2p orbits of O²⁻ to the empty orbits of the central W⁶⁺ of the tungstate groups. The comparison between photoluminescent lifetimes and quantum efficiencies of the two phosphors was also investigated in detail.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of the Fe2O3/g-C3N4 nanocomposites with enhanced photocatalytic activity for degradation of methylene blue

The preparation and photocatalytic performance of the Fe₂O₃/g-C₃N₄ nanocomposites with different weight percentage of iron was investigated in this study. Samples were successfully synthesized using melamine and ferric nitrate as the precursors via the green and facile microwave-assisted method. The physicochemical and structural properties of the Fe₂O₃-doped g-C₃N₄ were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis). The photocatalytic activity of the Fe₂O₃/g-C₃N₄ catalysts was evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) at room temperature under visible light irradiation. As expected, the as-synthesized samples exhibited considerable improvement in the photodegradation of MB. The Fe₂O₃/g-C₃N₄ (1.0 wt%) nanocomposite had superior photocatalytic activity, with almost 70% degradation efficiency within 90 min of irradiation. The enhanced performance was ascribed to the separation and migration of the photoinduced electron–hole pairs and taking part of the charge carriers in the chemical redox reactions at the surface of the photocatalyst. In this work, the effect of Fe weight percentage on the degradation potential was also studied, and the photocatalytic mechanism was proposed with the main reactive species •OH.     

Combustion synthesis and luminescent properties of metal yttrium borates M3Y2 (BO3)4:Eu3+ (M = Ba,Sr) for PDPs applications

The polycrystalline powder samples of Eu³⁺ activated; mixed metal yttrium borate phosphors M₃Y₂(BO₃)₄ (M = Ba, Sr) with improved color purity of red emission for plasma display panels (PDPs) were prepared by solution combustion technique. The synthesis is based up on the exothermic reaction between the fuel (Urea) and oxidizer (Ammonium nitrate) .The heat generated in the reaction is utilized for auto combustion of ingredients. The formation of desired product and crystal structure was confirmed by powder XRD technique; while particle morphology was studied using FE-SEM. Samples under 254 and 147 nm excitation showed intense and pure red emission around 613 nm corresponding to the electric dipole ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ transition of Eu³⁺, CIE chromaticity coordinates of synthesized phosphors was found to be (x = 0.67, y = 0.32) close to National Television Standard Committee (NTSC) for red color; found suitable to employ in plasma display panels (PDPs) applications.     

A novel stibium phosphate,LiBa(SbO)2(PO4)3: synthesis,crystal structure and RE3+‐activated (RE = Tb3+ and Eu3+) fluorescence performance

A new stibium phosphate, lithium barium bis(antimony oxide) tris(phosphate), LiBa(SbO)₂(PO₄)₃, was prepared by the molten salt method with LiF as the flux. The crystal structure consists of an original three‐dimensional anionic framework of [(SbO)₂(PO₄)₃]_∞ built from PO₄ tetrahedra sharing their corners with SbO₆ octahedra. This framework delimits one‐dimensional tunnels where the lithium(I) and barium(II) ions are located. The UV–Vis spectrum shows that LiBa(SbO)₂(PO₄)₃ was transparent from 350 to 800 nm, and is thus suitable as a luminescent host matrix. We then used Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ activators to test its luminous performance and the purities of the prepared phosphors were studied by powder X‐ray diffraction analysis with Rietveld refinements. Photoluminescence (PL) studies reveal that the emission spectra of 1 mol% RE³⁺‐doped (RE = Tb and Eu) samples can be excited by 371 and 394 nm light, emitting green and orange–red light, respectively, for Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺. The CIE coordinates were measured to be (0.295, 0.571) and (0.6027, 0.3967), and the luminescent lifetimes were calculated as 0.178 and 1.159 ms, respectively.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Photoluminescence Properties of Novel KBaSc2(PO4)3:Ce3+/Eu2+/Tb3+ Phosphors for White‐Light‐Emitting Diodes

A series of novel KBaSc₂(PO₄)₃:Ce³⁺/Eu²⁺/Tb³⁺phosphors are prepared using a solid‐state reaction. X‐ray diffraction analysis and Rietveld structure refinement are used to check the phase purity and crystal structure of the prepared samples. Ce³⁺‐ and Eu²⁺‐doped phosphors both have broad excitation and emission bands, owing to the spin‐ and orbital‐allowed electron transition between the 4f and 5d energy levels. By co‐doping the KBaSc₂(PO₄)₃:Eu²⁺ and KBaSc₂(PO₄)₃:Ce³⁺ phosphors with Tb³⁺ ions, tunable colors from blue to green can be obtained. The critical distance between the Eu²⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions is calculated by a concentration quenching method and the energy‐transfer mechanism for Eu²⁺→Tb³⁺ is studied by utilizing the Inokuti–Hirayama model. In addition, the quantum efficiencies of the prepared samples are measured. The results indicate that KBaSc₂(PO₄)₃:Eu²⁺,Tb³⁺ and KBaSc₂(PO₄)₃:Ce³⁺,Tb³⁺ phosphors might have potential applications in UV‐excited white‐light‐emitting diodes.