scholarly journals Synthesizing CuO/CeO2/ZnO Ternary Nano-Photocatalyst with Highly Effective Utilization of Photo-Excited Carriers under Sunlight

Nanomaterials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1946 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaiyi Luo ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Wenyu Hu ◽  
Han Li ◽  
Qiuping Zhang ◽  
...  

The construction of heterostructured photocatalyst with an appropriate energy band structure will help realize highly efficient photo-excited charge separation. In this study, ternary CuO/CeO2/ZnO nano-particle (NP) composites were synthesized by a facile two-step sol-gel method, which exhibit significantly enhanced photocatalytic degradation performance for various organic pollutants under UV and visible light excitation. The photo-responses to both UV and visible light, as well as the visible light absorption and utilization rates of ZnO are found to be synergistically intensified by CeO2 and CuO co-coupling. The first-order kinetic constants (K) of 3%CuO/CeO2/ZnO for methylene blue (MB) degradation are ~3.9, ~4.1 and ~4.8 times higher than ZnO under UV light, visible light and simulated sunlight illumination, respectively. The roles of CuO and CeO2 in optical properties and photo-degradation under UV and visible light were explored. Besides, the photogenic holes (h+) of ZnO, CeO2, and the produced hydroxyl radicals (·OH) are proved to be the main active species under UV light. Dissimilarly, under visible light, the superoxide radicals (·O2−) formed by the reactions between oxygen molecules and the photo-generated electrons (e−) of CuO moving towards the catalysts surface are also found to be important for promoting dye decomposition. The improved photo-responses, the well-matched band structure that facilitates charge transfer processes, and the highly efficient utilization of the photo-excited carriers of the ternary nano-heterostructure are suggested to be the key factors for the remarkable enhancement of photocatalytic performance of ZnO nano-photocatalyst. This work offers a low-cost strategy to acquire highly active UV and visible light-driven photocatalyst.

RSC Advances ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (110) ◽  
pp. 64747-64755 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuefeng Xu ◽  
Man Wang ◽  
Yanyan Pei ◽  
Changchun Ai ◽  
Liangjie Yuan

The micro/nano-structure composite SiO2@Ag/AgCl was employed as a low cost photocatalyst for the degradation of RhB in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation, which exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance and stability.


2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chee Yong Fong ◽  
Sha Shiong Ng ◽  
NurFahana Mohd Amin ◽  
Fong Kwong Yam ◽  
Zainuriah Hassan

Purpose This study aims to explore the applicability of the sol-gel-derived GaN thin films for UV photodetection. Design/methodology/approach GaN-based ultraviolet (UV) photodetector with Pt Schottky contacts was fabricated and its applicability was investigated. The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the GaN-based UV photodetector under the dark current and photocurrent were measured. Findings The ideality factors of GaN-based UV photodetector under dark current and photocurrent were 6.93 and 5.62, respectively. While the Schottky barrier heights (SBH) for GaN-based UV photodetector under dark current and photocurrent were 0.35 eV and 0.34 eV, respectively. The contrast ratio and responsivity of this UV photodetector measured at 5 V were found to be 1.36 and 1.68 μA/W, respectively. The photoresponse as a function of time was measured by switching the UV light on and off continuously at different forward biases of 1, 3 and 6 V. The results showed that the fabricated UV photodetector has reasonable stability and repeatability. Originality/value This work demonstrated that GaN-based UV photodetector can be fabricated by using the GaN thin film grown by low-cost and simple sol-gel spin coating method.


RSC Advances ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (13) ◽  
pp. 6752-6758 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanyang Wang ◽  
Yinghua Zhang ◽  
Haiqiang Lu ◽  
Yanxin Chen ◽  
Zhenmin Liu ◽  
...  

Two new types of N-doped ZrO2 photocatalysts ZON and AZON have been synthesized using ethylenediamine as the nitrogen source by a facile and low-cost sol–gel method.


Nanomaterials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taiping Xie ◽  
Jiao Hu ◽  
Jun Yang ◽  
Chenglun Liu ◽  
Longjun Xu ◽  
...  

Magnetic BiOBr/SrFe12O19 nanosheets were successfully synthesized using the hydrothermal method. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and UV-visible diffused reflectance spectra (UV-DRS), and the magnetic properties were tested using a vibration sample magnetometer (VSM). The as-produced composite with an irregular flaky-shaped aggregate possesses a good anti-demagnetization ability (Hc = 861.04 G) and a high photocatalytic efficiency. Under visible light (λ > 420 nm) and UV light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation, the photodegradation rates of Rhodamine B (RhB) using BiOBr/SrFe12O19 (5 wt %) (BOB/SFO-5) after 30 min of reaction were 97% and 98%, respectively, which were higher than that using BiOBr (87%). The degradation rate of RhB using the recovered BiOBr/5 wt % SrFe12O19 (marked as BOB/SFO-5) was still more than 85% in the fifth cycle, indicating the high stability of the composite catalyst. Meanwhile, after five cycles, the magnetic properties were still as stable as before. The radical-capture experiments proved that superoxide radicals and holes were main active species in the photocatalytic degradation of RhB.


2018 ◽  
Vol 78 (12) ◽  
pp. 2500-2510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry H. Mungondori ◽  
Spencer Ramujana ◽  
David M. Katwire ◽  
Raymond T. Taziwa

AbstractThis work investigates the preparation of a magnetically recoverable photocatalytic nanocomposite of maghemite nanoparticles coated with silica and carbon doped titanium dioxide. The novel nanocomposite boasts the advantages of efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in water and ease of recovery of the fine particles after water treatment. The photocatalytic nanocomposite was successfully synthesized through a stepwise approach via co-precipitation and sol-gel methods. Characterisation by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) substantiated the existence of the intended structure of the nanocomposite and the particles were found to be in the size range of 15–22 nm with a quasi-spherical shape. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis revealed an average surface area of 55.20 m2/g, which is higher than that of commercial TiO2 (Degussa P25, 50.00 m2/g), and an average pore diameter of 8.36 nm. A 5 ppm methylene blue solution was degraded with an efficiency of 96.8% after 3 h of solar irradiation, which was 19.7% greater than using the same photo-catalyst under strict UV light irradiation. Photo-catalysis using these nanoparticles was observed to be very effective. The prepared novel visible light active nanocomposite has great potential for incorporation into water treatment systems because it exhibits good stability and magnetism, as well as high photocatalytic efficiency.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yim-Leng Chan ◽  
Swee-Yong Pung ◽  
Srimala Sreekantan

The visible-light-driven semiconductor photocatalysts are the current research focus techniques used to decompose organic pollutants/compounds. The photodegradation efficiency of organic compounds by photocatalyst is expected to be better compared to UV-light-driven semiconductor photocatalysts technique since the major components of our solar energy are visible light (~44%). However, as most of the previous research work has been carried out using semiconductor photocatalysts in the form of powder, extra steps and costs are needed to remove this powder from the slurry to prevent secondary pollution. In this research work, we will explain our fabrication technique of V2O5 nanoflakes by growing radially on PET fibers. By utilizing the flexibility and high surface area of polymeric fibers as novel substrate for the growth of V2O5 nanoflakes, the Rhodamine B (RhB) could be degraded under visible light irradiation. The photodegradation of RhB solution by V2O5 nanoflakes followed the 1st order kinetic with a constant rate of 0.0065 min−1. The success of this research work indicates that V2O5 nanoflakes grown on PET fibre could be possibly used as organic waste water purifier under continuous flow condition. A photodegradation mechanism of V2O5 nanostructures to degrade RhB dye is proposed based on the energy diagram.


2016 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 73-79
Author(s):  
Fang Li Chi ◽  
Guo Dong Zhou ◽  
Biao Song ◽  
Bin Yang ◽  
Yao Hui Lv ◽  
...  

Visible light responsive CoTiO3 nanoparticles with average diameter of 100 nm were successfully synthesized by sol-gel method and were firstly applied to catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for degradation of organic pollutants (Rhodamine B (RhB)). Photocatalytic experiments illustrated that CoTiO3 nanoparticles reveal good photocatalytic activity and excellent ability to activate PMS, the synergistic effect of visible light photocatalysis and sulfate radical generated from activated PMS can degradate RhB efficiently. Besides, CoTiO3 nanoparticles maintain their high photocatalytic and activation efficiency after three times recycling.


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