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Photocatalytic Performance (photocatalytic + performance)
Selected AbstractsZnO Hierarchical Micro/Nanoarchitectures: Solvothermal Synthesis and Structurally Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance,ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 7 2008Fang Lu Abstract A novel ZnO hierarchical micro/nanoarchitecture is fabricated by a facile solvothermal approach in an aqueous solution of ethylenediamine (EDA). This complex architecture is of a core/shell structure, composed of dense nanosheet-built networks that stand on a hexagonal-pyramid-like microcrystal (core part). The ZnO hexagonal micropyramid has external surfaces that consist of a basal plane (000) and lateral planes {011}. The nanosheets are a uniform thickness of about 10,nm and have a single-crystal structure with sheet-planar surfaces as {20} planes. These nanosheets interlace and overlap each other with an angle of 60° or 120°, and assemble into a discernible net- or grid-like morphology (about 100,nm in grid-size) on the micropyramid, which shows a high specific surface area (185.6,m2,g,1). Such a ZnO micro/nanoarchitecture is new in the family of ZnO nanostructures. Its formation depends on the concentration of the EDA solution as well as on the type of zinc source. A two-step sequential growth model is proposed based on observations from a time-dependent morphology evolution process. Importantly, such structured ZnO has shown a strong structure-induced enhancement of photocatalytic performance and has exhibited a much better photocatalytic property and durability for the photodegradation of methyl orange than that of other nanostructured ZnO, such as the powders of nanoparticles, nanosheets, and nanoneedles. This is mainly attributed to its higher surface-to-volume ratio and stability against aggregation. This work not only gives insight into understanding the hierarchical growth behaviour of complex ZnO micro/nanoarchitectures in a solution-phase synthetic system, but also provides an efficient route to enhance the photocatalytic performance of ZnO, which could also be extended to other catalysts, such as the inherently excellent TiO2, if they are of the same hierarchical micro/nanoarchitecture with an open and porous nanostructured surface layer. [source] Effects of Structural Variation on the Photocatalytic Performance of Hydrothermally Synthesized BiVO4,ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 16 2006J. Yu Abstract Highly crystalline monoclinic scheelite BiVO4 powders are synthesized from aqueous Bi(NO3)3 and NH4VO3 solutions over a wide range of pH by a hydrothermal process. BiVO4 powders with various morphologies, surface textures, and grain shapes are selectively synthesized by adjusting the pH. The dependence of the Raman peak position and intensity on the synthesis conditions indicates that the symmetry distortions in the local structure of the synthesized BiVO4 are affected by the preparation conditions. These variations in the local structure result in the modification of the electronic structure of BiVO4, which results in a blue-shift in the UV-vis absorption spectrum of hydrothermally synthesized BiVO4 in comparison with a well-crystallized sample prepared by homogeneous coprecipitation. The photocatalytic activities for O2 evolution from an aqueous AgNO3 solution under visible-light irradiation are strongly dependent on the pH used in the synthesis. The differences in the photocatalytic activities between BiVO4 samples prepared under various conditions is attributed to the degree of structural distortion, leading to differences in the mobility of photogenerated holes formed in the valence band, which consists of Bi,6s and O,2p orbitals. [source] Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance of Brookite TiO2 Macroporous Particles Prepared by Spray Drying with Colloidal Templating,ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 10 2007F. Iskandar Macroporous particle photocatalysts can be produced using polystyrene latex (PSL) colloidal templating (see figure), which can be used for organic waste degradation. The rate of degradation is similar to that of nanoparticles. Macroporous particles have lower mechanical mobilities than nanoparticles and can be easily collected and recovered for repeated use. [source] ChemInform Abstract: Template-Free Hydrothermal Synthesis and Photocatalytic Performances of Novel Bi2SiO5 Nanosheets.CHEMINFORM, Issue 48 2009Ruigen Chen Abstract ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a "Full Text" option. The original article is trackable via the "References" option. [source] Building Niobate Nanoparticles with Hexaniobate Lindqvist IonsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 10 2010Hua Tong Abstract We present a general method to fabricate niobate nanoparticles (NPs) by using hexaniobate Lindqvist ions as niobium source. First, soft-chemical synthesis was adopted to prepare amorphous compound NPs, which subsequently served as parent bodies, affording not only nanoscale size but also optimal compositions and elements for the final annealed nanocrystalline niobates. By this method, a series of nanocrystalline niobates, including MNbO4 (M = In, Ga, Fe), MNb2O6 (M = Ba, Sr, Ni, Cd, Pb), MxFe1,xNbO4 (M = In, Ga), MxNi1,xNb2O6 (M = Ba, Sr), and (AgNb)1,x(SrTi)xO3, were successfully prepared. Experimental results presented herein show that the compositions and components of niobate NPs can be adjusted as desired, markedly influencing the crystal phase, energy band structure, and photocatalytic performance of the niobate NPs. [source] ZnO Hierarchical Micro/Nanoarchitectures: Solvothermal Synthesis and Structurally Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance,ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 7 2008Fang Lu Abstract A novel ZnO hierarchical micro/nanoarchitecture is fabricated by a facile solvothermal approach in an aqueous solution of ethylenediamine (EDA). This complex architecture is of a core/shell structure, composed of dense nanosheet-built networks that stand on a hexagonal-pyramid-like microcrystal (core part). The ZnO hexagonal micropyramid has external surfaces that consist of a basal plane (000) and lateral planes {011}. The nanosheets are a uniform thickness of about 10,nm and have a single-crystal structure with sheet-planar surfaces as {20} planes. These nanosheets interlace and overlap each other with an angle of 60° or 120°, and assemble into a discernible net- or grid-like morphology (about 100,nm in grid-size) on the micropyramid, which shows a high specific surface area (185.6,m2,g,1). Such a ZnO micro/nanoarchitecture is new in the family of ZnO nanostructures. Its formation depends on the concentration of the EDA solution as well as on the type of zinc source. A two-step sequential growth model is proposed based on observations from a time-dependent morphology evolution process. Importantly, such structured ZnO has shown a strong structure-induced enhancement of photocatalytic performance and has exhibited a much better photocatalytic property and durability for the photodegradation of methyl orange than that of other nanostructured ZnO, such as the powders of nanoparticles, nanosheets, and nanoneedles. This is mainly attributed to its higher surface-to-volume ratio and stability against aggregation. This work not only gives insight into understanding the hierarchical growth behaviour of complex ZnO micro/nanoarchitectures in a solution-phase synthetic system, but also provides an efficient route to enhance the photocatalytic performance of ZnO, which could also be extended to other catalysts, such as the inherently excellent TiO2, if they are of the same hierarchical micro/nanoarchitecture with an open and porous nanostructured surface layer. [source] Heterometal Alkoxides as Precursors for the Preparation of Porous Fe, and Mn,TiO2 Photocatalysts with High EfficienciesCHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 35 2008Xiao-Xin Zou Abstract Transition-metal-doped titanium glycolates (M,TG, with M=Fe, Mn), which are the first non-stoichiometric heterometal alkoxides, have been synthesised through a solvothermal doping approach. X-ray diffraction, UV/Vis diffuse reflectance and ESR spectroscopy revealed that the dopant ion (Fe3+ or Mn2+) is substituted for Ti4+ in the TG lattice. Fe3+ prolongs the crystallisation time of Fe,TG, whereas Mn2+ has a smaller effect on the crystallisation time in comparison with Fe3+. The as-synthesised M,TG materials were used directly as single-source precursors for the preparation of metal-doped titania (M,TiO2) through a simple thermal treatment process. The as-prepared M,TiO2 materials maintain the rod-like morphology of the precursors and possess a mesoporous structure with high crystallinity. It has been proved that the dopant ions are incorporated into the TiO2 lattice at the Ti4+ positions. The photocatalytic activities of the M,TiO2 materials obtained were evaluated by testing the degradation of phenol under UV irradiation. From the photocatalytic results, it was concluded that high crystallinity, a large surface area and appropriate transition-metal-doping are all beneficial to the enhancement of the photocatalytic performance of the doped TiO2 material. In addition, it was noted that in comparison with Mn,TiO2, Fe,TiO2 shows higher photocatalytic activity due to the better inhibition effect of Fe3+ on recombination of photogenerated electron,hole pairs. In contrast to the conventional nanosized TiO2 photocatalyst, the micrometre-sized M,TiO2 particles we obtained can be easily separated and recovered after the photocatalytic reactions. [source] Microstructured Arrays of TiO2 Nanotubes for Improved Photo-Electrocatalysis and Mechanical StabilityADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 12 2009Daoai Wang Abstract The preparation of micropatterned TiO2 nanotubes (NTs) with tunable morphologies by combining laser micromachining technology and an anodization method is reported. The micropatterned structure can be easily designed and fabricated by laser micromachining a titanium substrate, further anodization of which gives nanotube arrays perpendicularly oriented to the titanium surface. The patterned TiO2 NTs show dramatically improved photocurrent and photocatalytic performances because of their enhanced surface area and light-harvesting capability. The photocurrent density and incident-photon-to-current efficiency at the peak absorption increases by 48 and 39%, respectively, compared to a TiO2 NT array without a patterned structure. It was also found that micropatterning dramatically improves the mechanical stability of the TiO2 NTs on the substrate, which otherwise were liable to peel off from the substrate surface. The strategy will reasonably expand the application of TiO2 NTs in a variety of fields that require enhanced photo-electrocatalysis and mechanical stability. [source] Rational Design of Ag/TiO2 Nanosystems by a Combined RF-Sputtering/Sol-Gel ApproachCHEMPHYSCHEM, Issue 18 2009Lidia Armelao Dr. Abstract The present work is devoted to the preparation of Ag/TiO2 nanosystems by an original synthetic strategy, based on the radio-frequency (RF) sputtering of silver particles on titania-based xerogels prepared by the sol,gel (SG) route. This approach takes advantage of the synergy between the microporous xerogel structure and the infiltration power characterizing RF-sputtering, whose combination enables the obtainment of a tailored dispersion of Ag-containing particles into the titania matrix. In addition, the system,s chemico-physical features can be tuned further through proper ex situ thermal treatments in air at 400 and 600,°C. The synthesized composites are extensively characterized by the joint use of complementary techniques, that is, X-ray photoelectron and X-ray excited Auger electron spectroscopies (XPS, XE-AES), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), glancing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE,SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction (ED), high-angle annular dark field scanning TEM (HAADF,STEM), energy-filtered TEM (EF,TEM) and optical absorption spectroscopy. Finally, the photocatalytic performances of selected samples in the decomposition of the azo-dye Plasmocorinth B are preliminarily investigated. The obtained results highlight the possibility of tailoring the system characteristics over a broad range, directly influencing their eventual functional properties. [source] Surface Properties and Photocatalytic Activity of Ptcore/Agshell Nanoparticle-Loaded TiO2CHEMPHYSCHEM, Issue 8 2006Hiroaki Tada Prof. Bimetallic nanoparticles are successfully formed on the surface of TiO2 (see figure) with Ag shell layer (nL) control. Pt@Ag/TiO2 exhibits unique photocatalytic performances for reduction of nitorobenzene at nL,1, however when nL exceeds ,1 they are similar to those of Ag/TiO2. Furthermore at the critical value of nL,1, the surface properties of Pt@Ag nanoparticles change from Pt to Ag. [source] | |||||||||||||