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Relations between Structure, Activity and Stability in C3N4 Based Photocatalysts Used for Solar Hydrogen Production
Solar hydrogen production from water could be a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to fossil energy carriers, yet so far photocatalysts active and stable enough for large-scale applications are not available, calling for advanced research efforts. In this work, H2 evolution rates of up to 1968 and 5188 μmol h−1 g−1 were obtained from aqueous solutions of triethanolamine (TEOA) and oxalic acid (OA), respectively, by irradiating composites of AgIn5S8 (AIS), mesoporous C3N4 (CN, surface area >150 m2/g) and ≤2 wt.% in-situ photodeposited Pt nanoparticles (NPs) with UV-vis (≥300 nm) and pure visible light (≥420 nm). Structural properties and electron transport in these materials were analyzed by XRD, STEM-HAADF, XPS, UV-vis-DRS, ATR-IR, photoluminescence and in situ-EPR spectroscopy. Initial H2 formation rates were highest for Pt/CN, yet with TEOA this catalyst deactivated by inclusion of Pt NPs in the matrix of CN (most pronounced at λ ≥ 300 nm) while it remained active with OA, since in this case Pt NPs were enriched on the outermost surface of CN. In Pt/AIS-CN catalysts, Pt NPs were preferentially deposited on the surface of the AIS phase which prevents them from inclusion in the CN phase but reduces simultaneously the initial H2 evolution rate. This suggests that AIS hinders transport of separated electrons from the CN conduction band to Pt NPs but retains the latter accessible by protons to produce H2.
The Effect of Iron and Vanadium in VOy/Ce1-xFexO2-δ Catalysts in Low-Temperature Selective Catalytic Reduction of NOx by Ammonia
Supported VOy/Ce1-xFexO2-δ catalysts (x=0, 0.5, 0.1, 0.2) and bare supports were prepared and tested in selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx by NH3 between 150 and 300 °C with a GHSV of 70 000 h−1. Iron was found to be beneficial for the activity of the pristine supports, reaching 80 % conversion at 275 °C. When vanadium was additionally introduced into the system, iron was found to be detrimental for NOx-conversion. To derive structure-reactivity relationships, V-free supports and VOy/Ce1-xFexO2-δ catalysts were characterized by XRD, XPS, Raman spectroscopy and TEM. In situ XANES, as well as operando DRIFTS and EPR measurements were performed to study the behavior of the catalysts under reaction conditions. Up to an iron content of x=0.1, a solid Ce1-xFexO2-δ solution was formed. Higher iron contents led to formation of iron oxide agglomerates. These agglomerates, as well as an increased amount of surface oxygen species were found to be responsible for increased NOx-conversion over of pure supports. For V-containing catalysts, an interaction of Fe and V centers could be found. Under reaction conditions, Fe3+ was preferentially reduced instead of V5+, decreasing the catalytic activity of VOy/Ce1-xFexO2-δ. © 2020 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.