Fabrication of reduced Graphene Oxide supported Gd3+ doped V2O5 nanorod arrays for superior photocatalytic and antibacterial activities

In the current report, pure V₂O₅, a series of Gd doped V₂O₅ (1 wt%, 3 wt%, 5 wt% and 10 wt%) and graphene integrated Gd–V₂O₅ photocatalysts have been prepared using a facile wet chemical approach. The effect of Gd⁺³ ions substitution and RGO support on V₂O₅ was studied by the different analytical techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed the orthorhombic crystal structure of synthesized samples with crystallize size in range of 22–35 nm. Morphological analysis showed nanorods and nanorod arrays like appearance of V₂O₅, Gd–V₂O₅ and GdV-₂O₅/RGO, respectively. Gd–V₂O₅ and Gd–V₂O₅/RGO exhibited enhanced optical response in the visible region along with decrease in the band gap values for Gd doped V₂O₅ samples. BET surface area of Gd–V₂O₅ and Gd- V₂O₅/RGO was calculated as 12.39 g/m² and 15.35 g/m² that was found to be higher than pristine V₂O₅. To study the photocatalytic activity of synthesized photocatalysts, methylene blue (MB) was chosen as model pollutant. Among the Gd doped V₂O₅ samples, highest photocatalytic activity (45.62%) was achieved by optimal concentration of 5 wt% Gd–V₂O₅ that is accredited to effective separation of electron-hole pairs. While Gd–V₂O₅/RGO showed 2.1 times higher dye removal (97.12%) than unsupported Gd–V₂O₅, under the visible light irradiation. The significantly high photocatalytic activity of Gd–V₂O₅/RGO is due to the synergistic effect aroused by combined action of Gd⁺³ ions doping and advantageous properties of highly conductive and large surfaced graphene. Recycling experiments for V₂O₅ derivatives showed good stability and recyclability of photocatalysts. Additionally, Gd–V₂O₅/RGO was found to be more potential anti-bacterial agent than V₂O₅ and Gd–V₂O₅.     

Fabrication of direct Z-scheme FeIn2S4/Bi2WO6 hierarchical heterostructures with enhanced photocatalytic activity for tetracycline hydrochloride photodagradation

A series of direct Z-scheme FeIn₂S₄/Bi₂WO₆ hierarchical heterostructures with intimate interface contacts were synthesized by in-situ growth route and characterized by systematical analyses. All as-prepared FeIn₂S₄/Bi₂WO₆ nanocomposites showed significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity towards photodegradation for the removal of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) in comparison with individual FeIn₂S₄ and Bi₂WO₆. Meanwhile, the highest photocatalytic degradation activity can be achieved by modulating adding amount of FeIn₂S₄ in FeIn₂S₄/Bi₂WO₆ nanocomposites and the optimized component ratio of FeIn₂S₄ to Bi₂WO₆ is determined to be 10 wt%. The enhanced photocatalytic activity could be ascribed to efficient separation between photogenerated holes and electrons based on the construction of direct Z-scheme system. The high photocatalytic stability of resultant 10 wt% FeIn₂S₄/Bi₂WO₆ nanocomposites was revealed through six successive recycling reactions. The main intermediate generated during TCH photodegradation was explored by HPLC-MS. Besides, the direct Z-scheme photocatalytic mechanism was confirmed by band position analysis, electron spin resonance (ESR) and active species capture experiment.     

Photo-Fenton removal of water-soluble polymers

This paper presents the results of experiments carried out in a laboratory-scale photochemical reactor on the photodegradation of different polymers in aqueous solutions by the photo-Fenton process. Solutions of three polymers, polyethyleneglicol (PEG), polyacrylamide (PAM), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), were tested under different conditions. The reaction progress was evaluated by sampling and analyzing the total organic carbon concentration in solution (TOC) along the reaction time. The behavior of the different polymers is discussed, based on the evolution of the TOC–time curves. Under specific reaction conditions, the formation and coalescence of solid particles was visually observed. Solids formation occurred simultaneously to a sharp decrease in the TOC of the liquid phase. This may be favorable for the treatment of industrial wastewater containing polymers, since the photodegradation process can be coupled with solid separation systems, which may reduce the treatment cost.     

微/纳米ZnO绒球的制备及对混合污水的光降解

以自制的谷氨酸-氟硼酸(GluBF4)离子液体水溶液为反应介质,以物质的量比为1∶6的二水合醋酸锌[Zn(Ac)2·2H2O]和NaOH为原料,室温(25℃,20min)制备前驱体,再微波辅助加热(80℃,10min)制备了纳米氧化锌粉体,获得了纳米结构微米尺寸ZnO绒球。利用场发射扫描电子显微镜(FESEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)、比表面积(BET)、能谱(EDS)等对产物进行了表征。结果表明,所得产物为六方晶系纤锌矿结构,粉体粒径20.4nm,绒球比表面积为27.6m2/g。该纳米材料具有较高的光催化降解有机污染物活性。以紫外光为光源,50 mg微/纳米ZnO绒球为光降解催化剂,取500mL北京雪莲羊绒股份有限公司排污口混合印染污水进行光降解实验,在30min内光降解效率达到了100%,催化剂可回收重复利用,并对光降解机理进行了初步分析。     

Extension of optical properties of ZnO/SiO2 materials induced by incorporation of Au or NiO nanoparticles

Incorporating noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) and oxides has been proved to be an effective method to tune the optical properties of silica based materials. In this paper the optical and photocatalytic properties have been studied for ZnO/SiO₂ modified with Au or NiO nanoparticles. Changes in the optical properties of semiconductor ZnO particles have been observed due to the deposition of coloured Au and NiO nanoparticles by reducing the band gap energy and thus extending light absorption to visible domain. The excellent surface characteristics of NiO/ZnO/SiO₂ and Au/ZnO/SiO₂ favour the adsorption behaviour of these materials and limit the recombination of electron–holes pairs. Crystal Violet degradation under VIS light proved to have higher efficiency in the presence of Au/ZnO/SiO₂ (97%) than for NiO/ZnO/SiO₂ (60%).     

Photocatalytic effect of carbon-modified n-TiO2 nanoparticles under visible light illumination

The present research focused on wet process synthesis of visible light active carbon-modified (CM)-n-TiO₂ nanoparticles and their photocatalytic activity. The CM-n-TiO₂ was synthesized by hydrolysis of TiCl₄ in the presence of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide and also in the presence of glucose and sodium hydroxide. UV–vis spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and FT-IR were used to characterize these photocatalysts. It was found that the CM-n-TiO₂ nanoparticles synthesized by hydrolysis with tetrabutylammonium hydroxide or with sodium hydroxide and glucose when subjected to extended aging and subsequent calcinations absorb well into the visible to near infrared region up to 800 nm and exhibit enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity on degradation of 4-chlorophenol. CM-n-TiO₂ synthesized using glucose as the carbon source generated 13-fold increase in the initial rate of photodegradation of 4-chlorophenol compared to those by regular n-TiO₂, whereas, it increased only eight-fold when tetrabutylammonium hydroxide was used as the carbon source.     

Microwave assisted synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles in ionic liquid [Bmim]cl and their photocatalytic investigation

In this study, ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized based on the chemical reaction of zinc acetate and NaOH in ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl) under microwave irradiation. The prepared ZnO were characterized by utilizing various techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, and BET method. XRD pattern reveals the produced ZnO has hexagonal structure and the images of SEM and TEM also reveal it consists of nanoparticles with an average size between 15 and 25 nm. The role of the ionic liquid on morphology of ZnO was investigated. For this purpose, a control ZnO sample was prepared without using any [Bmim]Cl. Photocatalytic properties of the synthesized ZnO on degradation of malachite green dye as model pollutant was investigated. The effect of various parameters such as pH, concentration of the dye and catalyst on the degradation of malachite green was investigated. In order to explore the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of malachite green, scavenger addition method has been employed. It is found that hydroxide radicals are main reactive species for the degradation.     

可降解高分子塑料的发展与应用

介绍了可降解塑料的分类及降解机理,探讨了其发展中存在的问题,并且对可降解塑料的发展前景进行了分析。     

Multifunctional TiO2 coatings for Cultural Heritage

Environmental pollution arising from industrial implants and urban factors is constantly increasing, causing aesthetical and durability concerns to urban structures exposed to the atmosphere.     

二氧化钛纳米棒在可见光下的光催化活性及其在降解有机污染物中的应用

The FTO/TiO2 seed layer/TiO2 nanorods were prepared by ion beam deposition and hydrothermal methods. Under UV light, the photocurrent density of FTO/TiO2 seed layer/TiO2 nanorods can reach 1.39 mA/cm2, which is higher than that without seed layer and nanorods structure. Not only that, the FTO/TiO2 seed layer/TiO2 nanorods can also adsorb visible light, which overcomes the defect that traditional TiO2 can not absorb visible light. The photocurrent density of FTO/TiO2 seed layer/TiO2 nanorods can reach 0.21 mA/cm2 under visible light. The increased performance resulted from the deposition of the TiO2 seed layer, which can reduce the band gap of TiO2. FTO/TiO2 seed layer/TiO2 nanorods also exhibited high photodegradation ability for organic pollutant methylene blue (MB). Within 120 min, 77.3% MB can be degraded, and the degradation rates remained almost unchanged after four cycles. Not only that, compared with powdered photocatalysts, FTO/TiO2 seed layer/TiO2 nanorods is easy to recover, and it can be reused by rinsing it with water several times and drying it naturally after the reaction.