Facile synthesis of Ti3C2 MXene-modified Bi2.15WO6 nanosheets with enhanced reactivity for photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI)

Through a facile hydrothermal method, we have successfully prepared Ti₃C₂/Bi_2.15WO₆ (TC/BWO) composite, and systematically investigated their reactivity for the photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) under visible light. X-ray diffraction and Raman analysis confirm the formation of heterostructure between Bi_2.15WO₆ and Ti₃C₂. The resultant 7TC/BWO composite exhibits enhanced photoactivity toward Cr(VI) reduction. After 120 min irradiation, the conversion of Cr(VI) reaches 92.5% with the quasi-first-order kinetic constant of k = 0.0145 min^?1, which is higher than that of pure BWO (30% and k = 0.0005 min^?1). The electrochemical and photoluminescent characterization confirm that the introduction of Ti₃C₂ is conducive to the separation of carriers, thus significantly improves the photocatalytic performance of TC/BWO. Furthermore, the radical capture experiments verify that the electrons are important for enhancing reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III). As a result, this research provides a comprehensive understanding of the reduction of Cr(VI) by TC/BWO composite under visible light.     

NiSe as an effective co-catalyst coupled with TiO2 for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Construction of semiconductor heterojunctions can effectively accelerate the separation of photo-induced charge carriers and thereby enhance photocatalytic activity. Here, NiSe was used as an effective co-catalyst to construct an active NiSe/TiO₂ heterojunction for improving the photocatalytic H₂ production of TiO₂. The resultant 10%NiSe/TiO₂ heterojunction exhibited 11 times higher photocatalytic H₂-production activity than that of bare TiO₂. The NiSe/TiO₂ heterojunction and the photo-reduction of partial Ni²⁺ to Ni⁰ notably accelerated the separation and transfer of photo-excited electron-hole pairs, and thus resulted in obvious improvement of H₂-evolution activity. This work holds promise for the application of NiSe in photocatalysis as a high-efficiency photocatalytic cocatalyst.     

Enhanced gas barrier properties of graphene-TiO2 nanocomposites on plastic substrates assisted by UV photoreduction of graphene oxide

Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets have received great attention as a key element for thin barrier films that block the permeation of water vapor and other gases. However, it remains a challenge to prepare the rGO-based barrier films on plastic substrates through a chemically benign and low temperature fabrication route. Toxic chemicals or high temperature thermal treatments that are widely used for preparing rGO need to be avoided because they can damage the underlying plastic substrates. In this study, we report the fabrication of rGO/TiO₂ composite films via an eco-friendly and low temperature ultraviolet (UV) photoreduction process and demonstrate their enhanced gas barrier properties by measuring water vapor transmission rates (WVTRs). When photocatalytic TiO₂ nanoparticles are employed, UV exposure reduces the GO/TiO₂ composite solution to form rGO/TiO₂, which is subsequently deposited on plastic substrates. The rGO/TiO₂ composites become resistant to water absorption because the UV photoreduction of GO/TiO₂ effectively removes most polar groups on the GO sheets. We confirmed that rGO/TiO₂ composites were successfully deposited onto the plastic substrate through a solution process and the barrier films led to a substantial reduction in WVTRs of the substrate. Our strategy for preparing graphene-based thin barrier films by using a UV photoreduction process enables the fabrication of solution-processed graphene-based encapsulation layers on plastic substrates with an eco-friendly and low temperature fabrication method.     

The Role of oxygen diffusion in photoinduced changes of the electronic and optical properties in amorphous indium oxide

A stable increase by as much as 10⁸ in the conductivity of amorphous indium oxide to σ≥ 10³Ω^-1 cm₋₁ can be achieved by ultraviolet photoreduction. This treatment also increases the absorption coefficient, α(hυ), by up to a factor of 10₃ for hυ <1.5 eV due to free carrier absorption and causes a 0.1 eV shift of the absorption edge to the blue. These changes are controlled by the Fermi level, EF, which is presumably determined by doping due to oxygen vacancies. A diffusion constant D >3 x 10⁻¹² cm²/s for oxygen at 300K is determined from a constant flow experiment. Oxygen diffusion is verified by secondary ion mass spectrometry with ¹⁸O. The functions α(hυ) and σ(T) are simulated as E_F is varied using a simple density of states model appropriate for amorphous semiconductors. These simulations qualitatively agree with the experimental data if transitions from the conduction band tail to the conduction band are assumed to be forbidden.     

Aromatic poly(pyridinium salt)s. Part 3. Photoreduction in amide solvents

UV-Vis irradiation of bis(pyridinium salt) model compounds and poly(pyridinium salt)s in amide solvents result in dramatic changes in their UV-Vis spectra. The absorption maximum near 342 nm, characteristic of pyridinium rings, disappears, while an absorption maximum near 500 nm appears and then disappears. During this process, the solutions change from yellow to dark red to light yellow. The inherent viscosities of the poly(pyridinium salt)s also decrease dramatically under UV-Vis irradiation. Both the color changes and the viscosity decreases are unaffected by the nature of the pyridinium salt counter anion. However, they are dramatically affected by the presence of pendent substituents. Electron-withdrawing groups increase the rate at which these changes take place, while electron-donating groups retard them. It is speculated that the photodecomposition proceeds through the initial formation of radical cations. It is also speculated that the amide groups may serve as reducing agents providing electrons in the electron transfer process. Evidence for this comes from the fact that a poly(pyridinium salt) containing pendent amide groups underwent photoreduction in DMSO in marked contrast to other poly(pyridinium salt)s that are photostable in this solvent.     

Simultaneous photoreductive removal of copper (II) and selenium (IV) under visible light over spherical binary oxide photocatalyst

Waste water of copper mines and copper processing plant contains both copper and selenium ions with other contaminants. In this paper simultaneous photoreductive removal of copper (II) and selenium (IV) is studied for the first time using spherical binary oxide photocatalysts under visible light. All the synthesized materials are found to be mesoporous in nature with reasonably high surface area. Among a range of hole scavengers, only EDTA (ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid) and formic acid are found to be the most active for the reduction reaction. A comparative study is carried out using both the hole scavengers varying reaction time, concentration, pH etc. For a single contaminant, EDTA is found to be the best for Cu(II) reduction whereas formic acid is the best for Se(IV) reduction. In a mixed solution both EDTA and formic acid perform very well under visible light irradiation. Highest photocatalytic reduction in a mixed solution is observed at pH 3. Among all the synthesized materials, TiZr-10 performs as the best photocatalyst for both Cu(II) and Se(IV) reduction. However under UV light, Degussa P25 performs slightly better than TiZr-10. Present study shows that 100 ppm of mixed solution can be removed under visible light in 40 min of reaction using TiZr-10 as catalyst. Photodeposited material is found to be copper selenide rather than pure copper and selenium metal. This indicates that the waste water containing copper and selenium ions can be efficiently treated under visible or solar light.     

Solar-based photoreduction of methyl orange using zeolite supported photocatalytic materials

A new class of novel photocatalysts has been prepared by supporting TiO₂ on the zeolite matrix by various routes of synthesis. Different transition metals like cobalt, nickel, and ruthenium have been incorporated in these photocatalysts, alongwith molybdenum based heteropolyacid (HPA) to improve the photocatalytic activity of these materials. Photoreduction of methyl orange under solar radiation was compared with photoreduction in presence of artificial visible light illumination to evaluate their photocatalytic activity. The quantity of methyl orange photoreduced by the cobalt containing photocatalyst was about 2.40 mg/g of TiO₂ under the influence of sunlight as compared to 4.111 mg/g of TiO₂ under artificial visible light illumination. However, the efficiency of the photocatalyst is high as compared to P25 TiO₂ under solar light (0.508 mg/g of TiO₂). The high photocatalytic activity of these materials is due to the synergistic effect of incorporation of transition metals in combination with TiO₂ and HPA supported by the zeolite matrix. These materials are being evaluated for photocatalytic water splitting.     

Enhanced photocatalytic performance and stability of multi-layer core-shell nanocomposite C@Pt/MoS2@CdS with full-spectrum response

The nanocomposite material C@Pt/MoS₂@CdS was prepared by a simple microwave-assisted hydrothermal method combined with photoreduction method. The crystal structure, microstructure, and surface physical chemistry properties of the material were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance absorption spectroscopy (UV–vis/DRS), X-ray photoelectron energy spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurement, photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), and electrochemical tests. As a result, this material has full-spectrum light absorption property and the composited CdS presents a good hexagonal phase. Moreover, the composite material presents a nanorod-like multi-layer core-shell structure, wherein the rod-like MoS₂@CdS surface is covered with Pt and C. The formation of the multi-layer core-shell structure increases the specific surface area of as-composite material and strengthens its light absorption performance. The electrochemical impedance and transient photocurrent test results show that C@Pt/MoS₂@CdS has the highest charge separation efficiency and enhanced photocurrent density compared with other systems. Photogenerated charge carriers have higher separation efficiency, and photogenerated electrons and holes exhibit longer life. During the photocatalysis experiments, the nanocomposite C@Pt/MoS₂@CdS shows enhanced photodegradation activity under multi-modal photocatalytic experiments and excellent stability under visible light irradiation. In addition, C@Pt/MoS₂@CdS has a strong photocatalytic water splitting ability. Under the same experimental conditions, its hydrogen production is 60 times that of commercially available P25. Through capture experiments, the reactive species in the photocatalytic reaction process were determined, and the possible photocatalytic reaction mechanism of this multi-layer core-shell C@Pt/MoS₂@CdS nanocomposite was inferred.     

Integration g-C3N4 nanotubes and Sb2MoO6 nanoparticles: Impressive photoactivity for tetracycline degradation,Cr (VI) reduction,and organic dyes removals under visible light

The development of high-efficiency photocatalysts is an attractive strategy for pollutants degradation under visible light. Herein, novel photocatalysts are reported through coupling Sb₂MoO₆ with g-C₃N₄ nanotube (abbreviated as GCN nanotube) by a simple reflux method. Also, the nanocomposites were defined by applying various analyses. Under visible-light excitation, the GCN nanotube/Sb₂MoO₆ systems had more photoactivity than g-C₃N₄ (abbreviated as GCN) and the rate constant for RhB removal on optimal GCN nanotube/Sb₂MoO₆ (30%) nanocomposite was 48.3 times premier than the GCN. Also, compared to the pristine GCN, the GCN nanotube/Sb₂MoO₆ (30%) sample demonstrated supreme photoactivity towards tetracycline degradation and Cr (VI) photoreduction, which was 88.5 and 21.8 times higher than the bulk GCN, respectively. These impressive enhancements were attributed to the quick segregation of charge carriers, boosted visible-light absorption, and extended specific surface area. Moreover, the photocatalyst has enough activity after four successive cycles. Finally, a conceivable charges transfer route is presented through n-n heterojunction constructed between Sb₂MoO₆ and GCN nanotube.     

Facile Fabrication of Flexible In-Plane Graphene Micro-Supercapacitor via Flash Reduction

Flash reduction of graphene oxide is an efficient method for producing high quality reduced graphene oxide under room temperature ambient conditions without the use of hazardous reducing agents (such as hydrazine and hydrogen iodide). The entire process is fast, low-cost, and suitable for large-scale fabrication, which makes it an attractive process for industrial manufacturing. Herein, we present a simple fabrication method for a flexible in-plane graphene micro-supercapacitor using flash light irradiation. All carbon-based, monolithic supercapacitors with in-plane geometry can be fabricated with simple flash irradiation, which occurs in only a few milliseconds. The thinness of the fabricated device makes it highly flexible and thus useful for a variety of applications, including portable and wearable electronics. The rapid flash reduction process creates a porous graphene structure with high surface area and good electrical conductivity, which ultimately results in high specific capacitance (36.90 mF cm⁻²) and good cyclic stability up to 8,000 cycles.