Contact-electro-catalysis for the degradation of organic pollutants using pristine dielectric powders

Mechanochemistry has been studied for some time, but research on the reactivity of charges exchanged by contact-electrification (CE) during mechanical stimulation remains scarce. Here, we demonstrate that electrons transferred during the CE between pristine dielectric powders and water can be utilized to directly catalyze reactions without the use of conventional catalysts. Specifically, frequent CE at Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP) - water interface induces electron-exchanges, thus forming reactive oxygen species for the degradation of an aqueous methyl orange solution. Contact-electro-catalysis, by conjunction of CE, mechanochemistry and catalysis, has been proposed as a general mechanism, which has been demonstrated to be effective for various dielectric materials, such as Teflon, Nylon-6,6 and rubber. This original catalytic principle not only expands the range of catalytic materials, but also enables us to envisage catalytic processes through mechano-induced contact-electrification.

The Adsorption Performance of Polyaniline/ZnO Synthesized through a Two-Step Method

Polyaniline/Zinc oxide (PANI/ZnO) were prepared using a two-step method, and the morphology and the structure of PANI/ZnO composites were characterized through a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Factors such as the content of ZnO, the adsorption time and the mass of the adsorbent, and the kinetic equation of PANI/ZnO as adsorbents for the adsorption of methyl orange solution were studied. The results showed that the adsorption efficiency of methyl orange by polyaniline with the increase of adsorbent mass firstly increased and then decreased. Among the composites with the same quality, PANI composites with 8% ZnO have a better adsorption effect for methyl orange, and the maximum adsorption ratio can reach 69% with the increase of adsorption time at 0.033 g; With the increase of adsorbent mass, the adsorption efficiency of PANI composites with 8% ZnO increased continuously. When the mass increased from 0.033 g to 0.132 g, the adsorption rate increased from 69% to 93%, and the adsorption of the methyl orange solution by PANI/ZnO composites was more in line with the quasi-second-order kinetic equation.

An Ultrasound Application for TiO2 Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange

Nanometer TiO2 photocatalysts were prepared by the sol–gel method. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and other techniques. Methyl orange solution was used for the degradation of the organic material and ultrasonic technology was used to determine the photocatalytic performance of the catalysts. The results show that the photocatalytic performance of the Ni-N-TiO2 is clearly improved under ultrasonic conditions. The TiO2 photocatalytic degradation effect is optimal at a catalyst concentration of 0.3 g/L, an initial concentration of the organic matter of 0.03 mmol/L, a nickel-doping amount of 2 mol %, and a nitrogen-doping amount of 15 mol %. The use of ultrasound technology in combination with photocatalysis has a positive effect and results in a TiO2 degradation rate of methyl orange of 95 % after 3 h.

COPPER OXIDE THIN FILM SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND APPLICATION AS CATHODE IN PHOTOELECTROCATALYTIC CELL FOR METHYL ORANGE DEGRADATION

A copper oxide thin film was synthesized through a copper sheet annealing process that was carried out using a gas stove, furnace and 1000 W tungsten . The product and its response were measured using a and then characterized by XRD, SEM and EDX. Furthermore, the copper oxide was applied as a photocathode in a cell with Platinum (Pt) as the anode for methyl orange degradation, and the thin film annealed at 60 sec produced the highest current density. According to XRD and EDX results, copper oxide structure was dominated by Cu2O, while SEM showed the presence of a Cu2O porous surface. Methyl orange solution degradation also showed the best result for the copper oxide annealed at 60 sec and in all pH variations, while the best degradation was obtained at pH 1.

Tunable Adhesive Self-Cleaning Coating with Superhydrophobicity and Photocatalytic Activity

Superhydrophobic coatings with intelligent properties have attracted much attention because of their wide application in many fields. However, there is a limited amount of literature on superhydrophobic coatings whose wettability and adhesion can be adjusted by UV irradiation and calcination at the same time. In this study, amorphous SiO2 microspheres (A-SiO2) and nano-TiO2 particles (N-TiO2) were used to fabricate A-SiO2/N-TiO2 composites by wet grinding, and then, they were modified with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and sprayed onto substrate surfaces to obtain a tunable adhesive superhydrophobic A-SiO2/N-TiO2@PDMS coating. It is worth noting that the wettability and adhesion of the coating to water droplets could be adjusted by UV irradiation and calcination. The mechanisms of the aforementioned phenomena were studied. Moreover, methyl orange solution could be degraded by the coating due to its photocatalysis. The as-prepared coating had good adaptation to different substrates and outdoor environments. Moreover, the surfaces of these coatings exhibited the same liquid repellency towards different droplets. This research provides an environmental strategy to prepare advanced self-cleaning coatings.

Effect of titanium suboxide on the formation of anatase and rutile phases during annealing of C-Doped Ti–O thin film deposited by DC magnetron sputtering

C-doped Ti–O films with different titanium suboxide contents are prepared by DC magnetron sputtering deposition at different sputtering powers. The films with different phases are formed after annealing at 873[Formula: see text]K in air. The structure of the films is characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The optical properties and surface roughness of the films are investigated by UV–vis spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy, respectively. Photocatalytic activity of the thin films is studied by degrading the methyl orange solution under xenon lamp (300[Formula: see text]W) irradiation. The results show that the C-doped Ti–O thin films with higher titanium suboxide contents ([Formula: see text]%) tend to form the rutile phase after annealing, whereas the films with a lower titanate content ([Formula: see text]%) are easy to form anatase phase by annealing.

Photocatalytic Activity of Nonprecious Metal WSe2/g-C3N4 Composite Under Visible Light Irradiation

The WSe2/g-C3N4 (graphite carbon nitride) composite with photocatalytic properties was synthesized using a hydrothermal method. This synthesis pathway can be characterized by being simple, inexpensive and nonpolluting, integrating the concept of green chemistry. The WSe2/g-C3N4 composite could effectively degrade methyl orange solution under visible light irradiation. The decolorization experiment of methyl orange solution shows that the degradation rate of the 30[Formula: see text]wt.% WSe2/g-C3N4 composite can reach 98.7% after 100[Formula: see text]min of illumination, while the degradation rate of pure g-C3N4 was only 87.6% under the same conditions. This can be attributed to the fact that the combination of WSe2 and g-C3N4 nanosheets can increase the number of active binding sites, increasing the rate of charge separation and transport ability, decreasing the recombination rate of the photogenerated electron–hole pairs. Therefore, the WSe2/g-C3N4 composite will have potential development as a new material with low cost, easy synthesis and excellent performance in photocatalytic degradation of water pollution.

Photocatalytic Properties of Copper Nitride/Molybdenum Disulfide Composite Films Prepared by Magnetron Sputtering

Cu3N/MoS2 composite films were prepared by magnetron sputtering under different preparation parameter, and their photocatalytic properties were investigated. Results showed that the composite films surface was uniform and had no evident cracks. When the sputtering power of MoS2 increased from 2 W to 8 W, the photocatalytic performance of the composite films showed a trend of increasing first and then decreasing. Among these films, the composite films with MoS2 sputtering power of 4 W showed the best photocatalytic degradation performance. The photocatalytic degradation rate of methyl orange at 30 min was 98.3%, because the MoS2 crystal in the films preferentially grew over the Cu3N crystal, thereby affecting the growth of the Cu3N crystal. The crystallinity of the copper nitride also increased. During photocatalytic degradation, the proper amount of MoS2 reduced the band gap of Cu3N, and the photogenerated electron hole pairs were easily separated. Thus, the films produces additional photogenerated electrons and promotes the degradation reaction of the composite films on methyl orange solution.

Niobium Oxide Catalysts as Emerging Material for Textile Wastewater Reuse: Photocatalytic Decolorization of Azo Dyes

Niobium-based metal oxides are emerging semiconductor materials with barely explored properties for photocatalytic wastewater remediation. Brazil possesses the greatest reserves of niobium worldwide, being a natural resource that is barely exploited. Environmental applications of solar active niobium photocatalysts can provide opportunities in the developing areas of Northeast Brazil, which receives over 22 MJ m2 of natural sunlight irradiation annually. The application of photocatalytic treatment could incentivize water reuse practices in small and mid-sized textile businesses in the region. This work reports the facile synthesis of Nb2O5 catalysts and explores their performance for the treatment of colored azo dye effluents. The high photoactivity of this alternative photocatalyst makes it possible to quickly obtain complete decolorization, in less than 40 min of treatment. The optimal operational conditions are defined as 1.0 g L−1 Nb2O5 loading in slurry, 0.2 M of H2O2, pH 5.0 to treat up to 15 mg L−1 of methyl orange solution. To evaluate reutilization without photocatalytic activity loss, the Nb2O5 was recovered after the experience and reused, showing the same decolorization rate after several cycles. Therefore, Nb2O5 appears to be a promising photocatalytic material with potential applicability in wastewater treatment due to its innocuous character and high stability.