scholarly journals Original Approach to Synthesize TiO2/ZnO Hybrid Nanosponges Used as Photoanodes for Photoelectrochemical Applications

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (21) ◽  
pp. 6441
Author(s):  
P. J. Navarro-Gázquez ◽  
M. J. Muñoz-Portero ◽  
E. Blasco-Tamarit ◽  
R. Sánchez-Tovar ◽  
R. M. Fernández-Domene ◽  
...  

In the present work, TiO2/ZnO hybrid nanosponges have been synthesized for the first time. First, TiO2 nanosponges were obtained by anodization under hydrodynamic conditions in a glycerol/water/NH4F electrolyte. Next, in order to achieve the anatase phase of TiO2 and improve its photocatalytic behaviour, the samples were annealed at 450 °C for 1 h. Once the TiO2 nanosponges were synthesized, TiO2/ZnO hybrid nanosponges were obtained by electrodeposition of ZnO on TiO2 nanosponges using different temperatures, times, and concentrations of zinc nitrate (Zn(NO3)2). TiO2/ZnO hybrid nanosponges were used as photoanodes in photoelectrochemical water splitting tests. The results indicate that the photoelectrochemical response improves, in the studied range, by increasing the temperature and the Zn(NO3)2 concentration during the electrodeposition process, obtaining an increase in the photoelectrochemical response of 141% for the TiO2/ZnO hybrid nanosponges electrodeposited at 75 °C with 10 mM Zn(NO3)2 for 15 min. Furthermore, morphological, chemical, and structural characterization was performed by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) with Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Raman Confocal Laser Spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Grazing Incidence X-ray Diffraction (GIXRD).

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 3191
Author(s):  
Arun Kumar Mukhopadhyay ◽  
Avishek Roy ◽  
Gourab Bhattacharjee ◽  
Sadhan Chandra Das ◽  
Abhijit Majumdar ◽  
...  

We report the surface stoichiometry of Tix-CuyNz thin film as a function of film depth. Films are deposited by high power impulse (HiPIMS) and DC magnetron sputtering (DCMS). The composition of Ti, Cu, and N in the deposited film is investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). At a larger depth, the relative composition of Cu and Ti in the film is increased compared to the surface. The amount of adventitious carbon which is present on the film surface strongly decreases with film depth. Deposited films also contain a significant amount of oxygen whose origin is not fully clear. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) shows a Cu3N phase on the surface, while transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicates a polycrystalline structure and the presence of a Ti3CuN phase.


2002 ◽  
Vol 09 (02) ◽  
pp. 937-941 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. LUCHES ◽  
C. GIOVANARDI ◽  
T. MOIA ◽  
S. VALERI ◽  
F. BRUNO ◽  
...  

CoO layers have been grown by exposing to oxygen the (001) body-centered-tetragonal (bct) surface of a Co ultrathin film epitaxially grown on Fe(001). Different oxide thicknesses in the 2–15 ML range have been investigated by means of synchrotron-radiation-based techniques. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been used to check the formation of the oxide films; X ray photoelectron diffraction has given information concerning the symmetry of their unit cell; grazing incidence X-ray diffraction has allowed to evaluate precisely their in-plane lattice constant. The films show a CoO(001) rocksalt structure, rotated by 45° with respect to the bct Co substrate, with the [100] direction parallel to the substrate [110] direction. Their in-plane lattice constant increases as a function of thickness, to release the in-plane strain due to the 3% mismatch between the bulk CoO phase and the underlying substrate.


2011 ◽  
Vol 183-185 ◽  
pp. 2254-2257
Author(s):  
Ying Wei Wang ◽  
Yu Fei Li ◽  
Pei Han Yang

Nonmetal (S, P) doped titania nanoparticles were synthesized by a one step hydrothermal method. These samples were calcined with different temperature, the sample exist in anatase phase has much higher photocatalytic activity for methylene blue (MB) degradation. The visible response and the higher UV activity of the different nonmetal doped TiO2make it possible to utilize solar energy efficiently to execute photocatalysis processes. The resulting materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), etc. It can conclude the nonmetal doping TiO2proves to be more suitable to improve the photocatalytic performance.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Majtyka ◽  
Anna Nowak ◽  
Benoît Marchand ◽  
Dariusz Chrobak ◽  
Mikko Ritala ◽  
...  

The present paper pertains to mechanical properties and structure of nanocrystalline multiferroic BeFiO3(BFO) thin films, grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD) on the Si/SiO2/Pt substrate. The usage of sharp-tip-nanoindentation and multiple techniques of structure examination, namely, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, enabled us to detect changes in elastic properties(95 GPa≤E≤118 GPa)and hardness(4.50 GPa≤H≤7.96 GPa)of BFO after stages of annealing and observe their relation to the material’s structural evolution. Our experiments point towards an increase in structural homogeneity of the samples annealed for a longer time. To our best knowledge, the present report constitutes the first disclosure of nanoindentation mechanical characteristics of ALD-fabricated BeFiO3, providing a new insight into the phenomena that accompany structure formation and development of nanocrystalline multiferroics. We believe that our systematic characterization of the BFO layers carried out at consecutive stages of their deposition provides pertinent information which is needed to control and optimize its ALD fabrication.


Nanoscale ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 752-761 ◽  
Author(s):  
Axel Wilson ◽  
Aude Bailly ◽  
Romain Bernard ◽  
Yves Borensztein ◽  
Alessandro Coati ◽  
...  

Au–Cu bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) grown on TiO2(110) have been followed in situ using grazing incidence X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy from their synthesis to their exposure to a CO/O2 mixture at low pressure (P < 10−5 mbar) and at different temperatures (300 K–470 K).


2013 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 934-939 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji-Guo Huang ◽  
Xiao-Guang Zhao ◽  
Meng-Yang Zheng ◽  
Sen Li ◽  
Yu Wang ◽  
...  

Incomplete oxidation of titanium nitride (TiN) to prepare nitrogen-doped TiO2 was verified by calcining TiN at different temperatures in air for 30 min. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results confirmed that oxidizing TiN incompletely is an effective and simple method to prepare nitrogen-doped TiO2. Photocatalytic degradation of phenol was conducted to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of as-prepared samples. The results showed that phenol can be degraded efficiently by the as-prepared samples under visible light; low phenol concentration was conducive to degradation; the optimum calcination temperature and photocatalyst dosage are 650 °C and 0.5 g/L, respectively. The effects of different light sources on phenol degradation were compared. The reusability of nitrogen-doped TiO2 was tested and the results indicated a relatively good reusability under laboratory conditions.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Pola-Albores ◽  
Francisco Paraguay-Delgado ◽  
Wilber Antúnez-Flores ◽  
Patricia Amézaga-Madrid ◽  
Edna Ríos-Valdovinos ◽  
...  

ZnO nanorods were synthesized by induced seeds by chemical bath deposition using hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) as a precipitant agent and zinc nitrate (ZN) as Zn2+source at 90°C. The influence of reactants ratio was studied from 2 to 0.25 ZN/HMT molar. The results obtained by scanning electron microscopy confirm that the diameter of nanorods was affected directly by the concentration of both zinc and OH−sources. Nanotubes (hollow nanorods) were obtained with high HMT concentrations and were turning over nanorods as HMT concentration decreased. Microstructural information was obtained by Rietveld refinement of grazing incidence X-ray diffraction data. These results evidence low-textured materials with oriented volumes less than 18% coming from (101) planes in Bragg condition.


2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (a1) ◽  
pp. C66-C66
Author(s):  
Maria Elena Montero-Cabrera ◽  
Isai Castillo-Sandoval ◽  
Luis Fuentes-Cobas ◽  
Hilda Esparza-Ponce ◽  
Maria Elena Fuentes-Montero ◽  
...  

The Cave of Swords was discovered in 1910 at Naica mine, Chihuahua, Mexico. Its name refers to the look of the 1-2 m long crystals the cave had when it was discovered. Currently the crystals are 0.1-0.3 m long. The crystals surface is opaque and ocher. For over 100 years these crystals continue to amaze and give us clues about their formation. This work is part of a research aimed at the conservation of the Naica Giant Crystals. Thirteen samples from the Cave of Swords were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Confocal Laser Microscopy with Differential Interference Contrast (LCM-DIM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). X-Ray Fluorescence (μ-XRF) together with X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (μ-XANES) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) were employed for elemental analysis. For phase analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) in both symmetric and grazing incidence geometries (GI-XRD) and Micro electron diffraction at TEM were used. Impurities on crystals surfaces show a heterogeneous distribution of the present elements. The thickness of impurities ranges from 120 nm to 150 μm. The phases identified were (see figure) gypsum (1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 13), hematite (4, 7, 8), sphalerite (14), chalcopyrite (11), cuprite (15), galena (5), alabandite (12), halite, fluorite and amorphous Pb and Mn oxy-hydroxides. Al, C, Ca, Cl, Cu, F, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, O, Pb, S, Si and Zn elements were identified. A model for the origin of impurities follows: Selenite stopped growing when the solution became sub-saturated. Then, hematite was deposited as the main phase, which was dissolved or suspended in the solution. Hematite matrix served for the adsorption of other crystalline and amorphous phases. We concluded that humans have not produced the impurities, which are witnesses of the gypsum crystals formation. Acknowledgment: Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, Harvard Museum of Natural History and CONACYT CB-183706.


Catalysts ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1062 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Wang ◽  
Xiaoxiao Zhu ◽  
Dongqing Feng ◽  
Anthony K. Hodge ◽  
Liujiang Hu ◽  
...  

The Fenton-type oxidation catalyzed by iron minerals is a cost-efficient and environment-friendly technology for the degradation of organic pollutants in water, but their catalytic activity needs to be enhanced. In this work, a novel biochar-supported composite containing both iron sulfide and iron oxide was prepared, and used for catalytic degradation of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin through Fenton-type reactions. Dispersion of FeS/Fe3O4 nanoparticles was observed with scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Formation of ferrous sulfide (FeS) and magnetite (Fe3O4) in the composite was validated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Ciprofloxacin (initial concentration = 20 mg/L) was completely degraded within 45 min in the system catalyzed by this biochar-supported magnetic composite at a dosage of 1.0 g/L. Hydroxyl radicals (·OH) were proved to be the major reactive species contributing to the degradation reaction. The biochar increased the production of ·OH, but decreased the consumption of H2O2, and helped transform Fe3+ into Fe2+, according to the comparison studies using the unsupported FeS/Fe3O4 as the catalyst. All the three biochars prepared by pyrolysis at different temperatures (400, 500 and 600 °C) were capable for enhancing the reactivity of the iron compound catalyst.


1992 ◽  
Vol 71 (10) ◽  
pp. 5212-5216 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. B. Wu ◽  
J. S. Chen ◽  
C. D. Chiang ◽  
Y. M. Pang ◽  
S. J. Yang

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