Noble Metal Doped TiO2 Thin Films In The Efficient Removal of Mordant Orange-1: Insights of Degradation Process

Nanocomposite Ag0(NPs)/TiO2 is synthesized in a facile template method enabling fine particles of reduced Ag evenly distributed within the titania network. The morphological studies of nanocomposite were extensively performed employing SEM/EDX (Scanning Electron Spectroscopy/Energy Dispersive X-ray), TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy) and AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy). The newer insights in the photocatalytic elimination of Mordant Orange-1 (MO1) was obtained using the nanocomposite thin film for various parametric studies utilizing the UV-A and LED illuminations. The kinetics of degradation of MO1 was performed and the rate constant was favoured at lower concentrations of MO1. However, the elimination efficiency of MO1 was favoured with decrease in solution pH. The NPOC results inferred that fairly good extent of MO1 was mineralized using thin film catalyst for both the UV-A and LED illuminations. The minimal effect of several co-ions demonstrated applicability of thin films in the elimination of MO1 and the stability of the thin film has shown the potential applicability of thin film catalyst. Further, mechanism of photocatalytic degradation was demonstrated with the radical scavengers studies and ascertained the reaction pathways.

Conversion of Amorphous Carbon on Silicon Nanostructures into Similar Shaped Semi-Crystalline Graphene Sheets

Graphene sheets displaying partial crystallinity and nanowire structures were formed on a silicon substrate with silicon nanowires by utilizing an amorphous carbon source. The carbon source was deposited onto the silicon nanostructured substrate by breaking down a polymer precursor and was crystallized by a nickel catalyst during relatively low temperature inert gas annealing. The resulting free-standing graphene-based material can remain on the substrate surface after catalyst removal or can be removed as a separate film. The film is flexible, continuous, and closely mimics the silicon nanostructure. This follows research on similar solid carbon precursor derived semi-crystalline graphene synthesis procedures and applies it to complex silicon nanostructures. This work examined the progression of the carbon, finding that it migrates through the thin film catalyst and forms the graphene only on the other side, and that the process can successfully be used to form 3D shaped graphene films. Semi-crystalline graphene has the possible application of being flexible transparent electrodes, and the 3D shaping opens the possibility of more complex configurations and applications.

Aged Co-Mo alloy thin film catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction in acidic solution

In this study, aged Co–Mo (3:10) alloy film has been demonstrated as an efficient and durable catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic solution. The Co–Mo alloy films with varying Co/Mo atomic ratios have been deposited by magnetron sputtering. The catalytic activity of Mo film is outperformed by the Co–Mo alloys, among which the Co–Mo (3:10) alloy exhibits the highest HER activity with an overpotential of 310 mV at 10 mA cm[Formula: see text] current density, exchange current density of 1.74 × 10[Formula: see text] A cm[Formula: see text] and a Tafel slope of 61 mV dec[Formula: see text]. Combined with the good stability provided by the surface oxide layer, the aged Co–Mo (3:10) alloy is a promising catalyst for HER in acidic solutions.

Self-standing SnS nanosheet array: A bifunctional binder-free thin film catalyst for electrochemical hydrogen generation and waste-water treatment

Hydrogen generation during waste-water treatment has remained a long-standing challenge for the environment preservation welfare. In the present work, we have fabricated a promising bifunctional thin film-based catalyst for hydrogen...

Preparation and Photocatalytic Properties of Graphene/SrTiO3 Thin Film Catalyst

A novel graphene-bridged SrTiO3 (STO) thin film loaded on the glass was fabricated using a facile sol-gel method followed by the dip-coating and spin-coating method. As-prepared STO film and GO/STO film were tested by XRD, SEM to identify the composition and surface morphology. The as-prepared thin film catalyst was employed to degrade methylene blue (MB) in water under near ultraviolet ray irradiation. Compared to pure STO, GO/STO prepared by dip-coating method displayed good photocatalytic degradation efficiency with 58% removal of MB (60 mL, 5mg/L) in 6.0 h, the GO/STO prepared by spin-coating method displayed more superior degradation efficiency with 94% removal of MB (60 mL,5mg/L) in 6.0 h. The influences of MB volume and the different methods were also investigated in details. The enhanced photocatalytic activities could be attributed to the suppression of charge recombination, high specific surface area and great adsorption capability of GO/STO. This work provides a promising approach to construct novel film GO/STO with high stability and photodegradation efficiency that can be applied in efficient treatment pollutants in wastewater.