Nanomaterials for photocatalysis and applications in environmental remediation and renewable energy
Photocatalysis using nanostructured semiconductors is a potential strategy to solve environmental pollution problems. Photocatalysis and engineering applications have been mainly directed toward organic pollutant removal, NOx degradation, renewable energy production, and waste-to-energy conversion. Therefore, the aim of this thematic issue is to collect publications showing recent advancements in photocatalytic materials science and related promising applications in environmental remediation, pollutant removal, and renewable energy.
The scope of this thematic issue covers, but is not limited to the following topics:
- Novel synthesis approaches for photocatalysts, including inorganic materials, hybrid materials, and macromolecules
- Experimental and theoretical studies (including computational nanotechnology studies via first-principles calculations) of materials that result in significantly greater performance or in the understanding of existing photocatalytic processes involving organic pollutant removal, NOx degradation, and renewable energy production
- Emerging photocatalytic industrial applications, including degradation of organic contaminants (e.g., pharmaceuticals and antibiotics) and air purification
Submission deadline: September 30, 2022
- Review
- Published 21 Jan 2022
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Figure 1: Problems and sources associated with NOx air pollution (a) and NO photocatalysis over a semiconduct...
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Figure 2: (a) Statistics of publication number on SnO2 materials (2017–06/2021). Data was extracted from Web ...
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Figure 3: Ultraviolet–visible absorption spectra (a) and corresponding bandgaps of SQDs (b). Figure 3 was reprinted f...
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Figure 4: (a) Natural growth faces of SnO2 are the (110), (100) (equivalent to (010) in rutile), and (101) (e...
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Figure 5: The conversion processes of NO on perfect SnO2(110), SnO2−x(110) and O2 + SnO2−x(110) surfaces. Figure 5 wa...
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Figure 6: SEM images of SnO2 microspheres synthesized by a hydrothermal method at 180 °C for 24 h. Figure 6 was repri...
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Figure 7: NO photodegradation of materials under solar light (a), the dependence of concentration on irradiat...
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Figure 8: Proposed mechanisms for photocatalytic NO oxidation via interfacial charge migration over BiOBr/SnO2...
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Figure 9: NO photocatalytic degradation of materials under visible light irradiation (a), the dependence of c...
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Figure 10: Photocatalytic NO removal efficacy over SnO2 (a), g-C3N4 (b) and g-C3N4/SnO2 (c) with scavengers un...
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Figure 11: (a) Surface photovoltage spectroscopy, (b) transient photocurrent responses, (c) EIS Nyquist plots ...
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Figure 12: A mechanism of NO photocatalytic oxidation over SnO2–Zn2SnO4/graphene. Figure 12 was reprinted from [75], Chemic...
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Figure 13: (a) Diffuse reflectance spectra of SnO2 and SnO2/GQDs composites. Inset is the absorption spectrum ...
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Figure 14: Gaussian fit of PL spectra with inserted images of sample color of SnO2 (a) and SnO2−x (b); and pro...
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Figure 15: The proposed process of NO + O2 reaction over Ce–SnO2 under visible light irradiation. The ROS reac...
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Figure 16: Decay and growth curves of primary ROS versus radiation time of SnO2 NPs (a) and Ag@SnO2 (b). Figure 16 was ...
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- Full Research Paper
- Published 17 Jun 2022
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Figure 1: CV curves recorded in the solutions of (a) 0.1 M KCl, (b) 30 g/L Na2S, (c) 5 mM (NH4)6Mo7O24, and (...
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Figure 2: (a) CVs recorded during electrodeposition of MoS2 from solution 1.25; (b) comparison of the tenth c...
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Figure 3: FE-SEM images (top view and cross-sectional view) of (a) FTO and (b–f) MoS2 deposited on FTO from d...
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Figure 4: (a) XRD patterns and (b) Raman spectra of the FTO substrate and a thin film of MoS2 electrodeposite...
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Figure 5: CV curves of MoS2 CEs prepared with different concentrations of reaction precursors compared to tha...
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Figure 6: Nyquist plots of DSSCs using different MoS2/FTO and Pt/FTO CEs, the inset shows the equivalent circ...
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Figure 7: Photovoltaic performance of DSSCs fabricated with different MoS2/FTO and Pt/FTO CEs.
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- Published 05 Sep 2022
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Figure 1: The characteristic XRD patterns of LaNiO3 at different calcination temperatures.
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Figure 2: The characteristic XRD patterns of LaFeO3 at different calcination temperatures.
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Figure 3: The characteristic XRD patterns of LaFexNi1−xO3.
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Figure 4: The crystal diameters of samples with various Fe/Ni doping ratios.
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Figure 5: (a) The DRS spectrum and (b) the pictures of samples with various Fe/Ni doping ratios.
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Figure 6: Specific surface area, pore size, and pore volume of the samples with different Fe/Ni ratios.
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Figure 7: The FESEM images of LaFexNi1−xO3 prepared at pH 0 (at the magnification of 100,000×).
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Figure 8: MB degradation experiments using various LaFexNi1−xO3 with different Fe/Ni ratios prepared at (a) p...
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Figure 9: Kinetic analysis of MB degradation experiments using various LaFexNi1−xO3 with different Fe/Ni rati...
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Figure 10: (a) The C/C0 and (b) 1st order kinetic analysis of the MB photodegradation using LaFe0.7Ni0.3O3 ope...
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Figure 11: (a) The C/C0 and (b) 1st order kinetic analysis of the MB photodegradation using LaFe0.7Ni0.3O3 ope...
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Figure 12: (a) The C/C0 and (b) 1st order kinetic analysis of the photodegradation using LaFe0.7Ni0.3O3 operat...
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- Published 07 Oct 2022
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Figure 1: Schematic illustration of the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles.
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Figure 2: DTA/TG diagram of the zinc resinate sample.
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Figure 3: XRD diagram of ZnO NPs.
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Figure 4: FESEM image of synthesized ZnO NPs.
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Figure 5: HR-TEM images of synthesized ZnO NPs.
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Figure 6: UV–vis DRS spectra (a) and plot of (α·hν)2 as a function of photon energy for ZnO NPs (b).
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Figure 7: Zeta potential of synthesized ZnO NPs.
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Figure 8: UV–vis spectra of degradation of MO (a, b) and MB (c, d) under visible and UV light.
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Figure 9: Photodegradation efficiency of MO (a) and MB (b) under visible and UV light.
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Figure 10: E. coli inhibition percentage by ZnO with different amounts of ZnO in various contact time interval...
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Figure 11: Proposed mechanism of photocatalytic dye degradation and antibacterial activity against E. Coli by ...
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- Full Research Paper
- Published 18 Oct 2022
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Figure 1: Schematic diagram of pyrolysis synthesis process for MgO@g-C3N4 heterojunctions.
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Figure 2: (a) Photocatalytic NO degradation efficiency, (b) apparent quantum efficiency of the materials, and...
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Figure 3: (a) NO conversion and (b) DeNOx index of the materials.
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Figure 4: (a) XRD patterns and (b) FTIR spectra of the materials.
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Figure 5: SEM images of (a, b) 3%MgO@g-C3N4, (c, d) MgO, and (e, f) g-C3N4.
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Figure 6: (a) Elemental composition and (b–e) EDS mappings of 3% MgO@g-C3N4.
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Figure 7: TEM and HR−TEM images of (a, b) MgO@g-C3N4 and (c, d) g-C3N4.
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Figure 8: The XPS survey (a), HR−XPS C1s (b), N 1s (c), O 1s (d), C 1s (c), and Mg 2s (e, f) of the materials....
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Figure 9: (a) DRS reflectance spectra, (b) direct bandgap, (c) DRS absorbance spectra, and (d) indirect bandg...
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Figure 10: 3D fluorescence scan of (a) MgO and (b) 3% MgO@g-C3N4.
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Figure 11: (a) Trapping test results of the materials and (b) detection of radicals over over 3% MgO@g-C3N4 by...
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- Published 11 Nov 2022
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Figure 1: Reported publications from 2011 to 2021 were searched on 6th June 2022 using the keyword “Bismuth-b...
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Figure 2: Bi-based photocatalysts exhibit substantial oxidative capabilities for various redox processes.
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Figure 3: (a) The hierarchical structures of BiOI, Bi4O5I2, Bi4O5I2–Bi5O7I composite, and Bi5O7I are shown in...
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Figure 4: (a) Crystal structure of self-doped Bi/BiOBr–Bi5+, (b) band structure, and (c) RhB degradation of B...
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Figure 5: (a) Band diagrams representing three different semiconductor heterojunctions, (b) band diagrams for...
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Figure 6: Different charge transfer Z-scheme types: (a) Mediator-free or direct, (b) solid mediator, and (c) ...
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Figure 7: Graphical representation of the proposed charge transfer mechanism of (a) the Bi/Bi2MoO6/TiO2 nanoc...
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- Full Research Paper
- Published 22 Nov 2022
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Figure 1: (a) HR-XRD plots for HBN and MBN-80, (b–d) SEM images for HBN, MBN-25, MBN-50, and (e, f) MBN-80. H...
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Figure 2: XPS binding energy spectrum for constituent elements from MBN. (a) Survey scan, (b) B 1s, (c) N 1s,...
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Figure 3: BET adsorption–desorption isotherm and BJH pore distribution for (a) HBN and (b) MBN-80.
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Figure 4: (a) EPR plot for the studied materials, (b) zeta potential study.
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Figure 5: (a–e) UV-DRS and Tauc plot, (f) RI plot, and (g) LHE plot for the studied materials.
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Figure 6: (a) Nyquist plot for HBN and MBN-80, (b, c) MS-plot, (d) Wsc analysis for HBN and MBN-80, (e, f) OC...
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Figure 7: (a) Adsorption of MB and phenol at varied pH values. (b) The effect of pH variation on photocatalyt...
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Figure 8: (a) Electronic band structure demonstrating the edge potentials for MBN. (b) Charge trapping analys...
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- Full Research Paper
- Published 14 Dec 2022
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Figure 1: Schematic of the photoelectrochemical water splitting experimental apparatus.
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Figure 2: SEM images of (a) MWCNTs, (b) TiO2, and (c) the TiO2@MWCNTs nanocomposite.
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Figure 3: TEM images of (a) MWCNTs, (b) TiO2, and (c) the TiO2@MWCNTs nanocomposite.
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Figure 4: EDX spectra of MWCNTs and TiO2@MWCNTs.
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Figure 5: Raman spectra of MWCNTs and TiO2@MWCNTs.
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Figure 6: FTIR spectra of (a) MWCNTs, TiO2, and TiO2@MWCNTs, and (b) UV–vis DRS of TiO2 and TiO2@MWCNTs (Inse...
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Figure 7: XRD patterns of MWCNTs, TiO2 and TiO2@MWCNTs nanocomposite.
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Figure 8: (a) Cyclic voltammograms in 0.1 M KCl at 50 mV/s of scan rate, (b) Nyquist plots from EIS measureme...
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Figure 9: Effect of KOH concentration on (a) water splitting activation voltage and (b) rate of H2 evolution ...
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Figure 10: (a) Voltammograms of the TiO2 and the TiO2@MWCNTs electrode under dark (D) and light (L) conditions...
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- Full Research Paper
- Published 15 Dec 2022
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Figure 1: X-ray diffraction measurements of M1 (red), M2 (blue) (a), and UV–vis absorption spectra of M1 (red...
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Figure 2: SEM images of M1 (a), and M2 (b) catalysts.
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Figure 3: Molar fractions of ionic species as functions of the pH value.
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Figure 4: Determination of pHPZC for M1 (red) and M2 (blue).
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Figure 5: (a) Substrate decay rate of PhOH/O3 (blue), PhOH/M1 (orange), PhOH/M2 (green), and PhOH/photolysis ...
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Figure 6: Bromide ion production as a function of the time (circles – M1, crosses – M2, triangles – ozonation...
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Figure 7: Substrate removal efficiency of PhOH/O3 (dark blue), PhOH/M1 (red), PhOH/M2 (orange), PhOH/photolys...
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- Published 16 Dec 2022
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Figure 1: SEM images of TNAs (a, b), MoS2 (c), and g-C3N4 (d).
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Figure 2: SEM images of MoS2/TNAs (a), and g-C3N4/TNAs (b).
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Figure 3: XRD pattern (a) and FTIR spectra (b) of as-synthesized samples.
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Figure 4: Comparison of the optical properties of as-synthesized materials through DRS spectra (a) and Tauc p...
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Figure 5: EIS spectra (a), Mott–Schottky plots of pristine materials (b) and heterostructures (c).
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Figure 6: LSV plots (a), Tafel slopes (b), and photo-response (c) of the materials.
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Figure 7: Proposed band diagram of MoS2/TNAs (a) and g-C3N4/TNAs (b).
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- Published 03 Mar 2023
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Figure 1: Mechanism of the photocatalytic process used to treat water contaminated with organic pollutants.
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Figure 2: Most recently studied and common bismuth-based nanostructured photocatalysts.
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Figure 3: Bandgaps of some bismuth-based photocatalysts extracted from various research articles [27,35-37,83-86].
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Figure 4: Summary of the commonly used synthesis methods for bismuth-based nanostructured photocatalysts.
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Figure 5: Photocatalytic degradation pathways of antibiotics by bismuth-based photocatalyst. (Adapted from [191], ...
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Figure 6: (a) Photocatalysis mechanisms of bismuth-based nanosheets via S-scheme heterojunction and type-II h...
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