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Synthesis of High Crystalline TiO2 Nanoparticles on a Polymer Membrane to Degrade Pollutants from Water
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is described as an established material to remove pollutants from water. However, TiO2 is still not applied on a large scale due to issues concerning, for example, the form of use or low photocatalytic activity. We present an easily upscalable method to synthesize high active TiO2 nanoparticles on a polyethersulfone microfiltration membrane to remove pollutants in a continuous way. For this purpose, titanium(IV) isopropoxide was mixed with water and hydrochloric acid and treated up to 210 °C. After cooling, the membrane was simply dip-coated into the TiO2 nanoparticle dispersion. Standard characterization was undertaken (i.e., X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, water permeance, contact angle). Degradation of carbamazepine and methylene blue was executed. By increasing synthesis temperature crystallinity and photocatalytic activity elevates. Both ultrasound modification of nanoparticles and membrane pre-modification with carboxyl groups led to fine distribution of nanoparticles. The ultrasound-treated nanoparticles gave the highest photocatalytic activity in degrading carbamazepine and showed no decrease in degradation after nine times of repetition. The TiO2 nanoparticles were strongly bound to the membrane. Photocatalytic TiO2 nanoparticles with high activity were synthesized. The innovative method enables a fast and easy nanoparticle production, which could enable the use in large-scale water cleaning.
Verification of impurity-related photocatalytic activity of insulating oxide supports
Photocatalysts composed of vanadium oxide species supported on commercial MgO and ZrO2 are investigated in selective methanol oxidation. Both support oxides are insulators, so the vanadium oxide species are expected as sole active component in photocatalysis. However, the pure supports showed considerable activity: Bare MgO was more active than MgO-supported vanadia catalysts, and ZrO2 showed intermediate activity. By various characterization methods, the presence of TiO2 (anatase) in the MgO support, and the presence of Zn, possibly as ZnO, in ZrO2 is demonstrated. The present study highlights that photocatalysts containing commercial supports must be carefully checked for impurity-related photocatalytic performance. © 2021 The Authors
Morphology, Optical Properties and Photocatalytic Activity of Photo- and Plasma-Deposited Au and Au/Ag Core/Shell Nanoparticles on Titania Layers
Titania is a promising material for numerous photocatalytic reactions such as water splitting and the degradation of organic compounds (e.g., methanol, phenol). Its catalytic performance can be significantly increased by the addition of co-catalysts. In this study, Au and Au/Ag nanoparticles were deposited onto mesoporous titania thin films using photo-deposition (Au) and magnetron-sputtering (Au and Au/Ag). All samples underwent comprehensive structural characterization by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Nanoparticle distributions and nanoparticle size distributions were correlated to the deposition methods. Light absorption measurements showed features related to diffuse scattering, the band gap of titania and the local surface plasmon resonance of the noble metal nanoparticles. Further, the photocatalytic activities were measured using methanol as a hole scavenger. All nanoparticle-decorated thin films showed significant performance increases in hydrogen evolution under UV illumination compared to pure titania, with an evolution rate of up to 372 μL H2 h−1 cm−2 representing a promising approximately 12-fold increase compared to pure titania.
Photocatalytic degradation and toxicity evaluation of diclofenac by nanotubular titanium dioxide–PES membrane in a static and continuous setup
Diclofenac is a commonly used anti-inflammatory drug, which has been found in surface waters. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) seem to be the most suitable technique to prevent the entry of diclofenac and other pollutants into surface waters. TiO2 is especially reliable in mineralizing many organic molecules. The combination of TiO2 nanotubes with a polymer microfiltration membrane (polyethersulfone, PES) showed high photocatalytic activity by degrading diclofenac combined with an excellent membrane performance and long-term stability. By continuously degrading pollutants from water via a cross-flow setup, the molecules to be degraded are transported right to the membrane surface so that the overall reaction rate is increased. The toxicity of diclofenac was reduced by photocatalysis and photolysis; however, photocatalysis had greater impact. Moreover, the complete degradation of pollutants is very important to avoid highly toxic intermediate products.
Addressing the Reproducibility of Photocatalytic Carbon Dioxide Reduction
Reproducibility of photocatalytic reactions, especially when conducted on small scale for improved turnover numbers with in situ formed catalysts can prove challenging. Herein, we showcase the problematic reproducibility on the example of attractive photocatalytic CO2 reduction utilizing [FeFe] hydrogenase mimics. These Fe complexes, well-known for their application in proton reduction reactions, were combined with a heteroleptic Cu photosensitizer and produced CO/H2/HCO2H mixtures of variable constitution. However, the reactions indicated a poor reproducibility, even when conducted with well-defined complexes. Based on our experience, we make suggestions for scientists working in the field of photocatalysis on how to address and report the reproducibility of novel photocatalytic reaction protocols. In addition, we would like to highlight the importance of studying reproducibility of novel reaction protocols, especially in the fields of photocatalytic water splitting and CO2 reduction, where TONs are widely used as the comparable measure for catalytic activity. © 2019 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.
Removal of hazardous pharmaceutical from water by photocatalytic treatment
The photocatalytic abatement of hazardous pharmaceuticals has been investigated at very low concentration in the ppb range as found in wastewater and in environmental pollutants. Photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline as a model compound with titania catalysts has been studied using solarium UV-A and black light with differentially applied electric power, tetracycline and catalyst concentration. Abatement of up to 90% has been achieved after 1 hour. Adsorption of tetracycline and photochemical degradation contribute significantly to the abatement of tetracycline resulting in an immediate reduction during the initial period of treatment. Contribution of adsorption is high at very low concentration (500 ppb). Photocatalytic treatment with titania is even highly efficient in the abatement of very small concentrations of tetracycline in drinking water. © 2010 Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Wien.
Selective Earth-Abundant System for CO2 Reduction: Comparing Photo- and Electrocatalytic Processes
The valorization of CO2 via photo- or electrocatalytic reduction constitutes a promising approach toward the sustainable production of fuels or value-added chemicals using intermittent renewable energy sources. For this purpose, molecular catalysts are generally studied independently with respect to the photo- or the electrochemical application, although a unifying approach would be much more effective with respect to the mechanistic understanding and the catalyst optimization. In this context, we present a combined photo- and electrocatalytic study of three Mn diimine catalysts, which demonstrates the synergistic interplay between the two methods. The photochemical part of our study involves the development of a catalytic system containing a heteroleptic Cu photosensitizer and the sacrificial BIH reagent. The system shows exclusive selectivity for CO generation and renders turnover numbers which are among the highest reported thus far within the group of fully earth-abundant photocatalytic systems. The electrochemical part of our investigations complements the mechanistic understanding of the photochemical process and demonstrates that in the present case the sacrificial reagent, the photosensitizer, and the irradiation source can be replaced by the electrode and a weak Brønsted acid. © 2019 American Chemical Society.
Criticial Assessment of the Photocatalytic Reduction of Cr(VI) over Au/TiO2
The purification of drinking water is one of the most urgent challenges in developing countries, for which the efficient removal of traces of heavy metals, e.g., Cr(IV), represents a key technology. This can be achieved via photocatalysis. In this study, we compare the performance of Au/TiO2 to bare TiO2 P25 catalysts. Furthermore, the influence of the sacrificial reagent citric acid under UV-Vis and Vis excitation was investigated and a detailed investigation of the catalysts before and after reaction was performed. During the photocatalytic reduction of Cr(IV) under acidic conditions, both leaching of Au, as well as absorption of Cr, occur, resulting in new catalyst systems obtained in situ.
Work on non photocatalytically active titania particles
Titanium dioxide has photocatalytic properties, i.e. under UV irradiation it develops an oxidative potential. In photocatalysis this is very desirable, but not when nano particulate titania is embedded into organic polymer matrices in order to increase the refractive index. UV irradiation would in this case destroy the material in the long run. For deactivation in general the titania is coated by e.g. silica or alumina which leads to other undesired effects like growth of the particle size and enhanced light scattering. The current work focuses on the application of techniques for doping during synthesis of crystallization of nano particulate TiO2. The photocatalysis activity was determined by degradation experiments of 4-chlorophenol using dip coated glass plates under artificial sunlight, where decreases of the photocatalytic effect of up to 90 % were found.
Pinning of the Fermi Level in CuFeO2 by Polaron Formation Limiting the Photovoltage for Photochemical Water Splitting
CuFeO2 is recognized as a potential photocathode for photo(electro)chemical water splitting. However, photocurrents with CuFeO2-based systems are rather low so far. In order to optimize charge carrier separation and water reduction kinetics, defined CuFeO2/Pt, CuFeO2/Ag, and CuFeO2/NiOx(OH)y heterostructures are made in this work through a photodeposition procedure based on a 2H CuFeO2 hexagonal nanoplatelet shaped powder. However, water splitting performance tests in a closed batch photoreactor show that these heterostructured powders exhibit limited water reduction efficiencies. To test whether Fermi level pinning intrinsically limits the water reduction capacity of CuFeO2, the Fermi level tunability in CuFeO2 is evaluated by creating CuFeO2/ITO and CuFeO2/H2O interfaces and analyzing the electronic and chemical properties of the interfaces through photoelectron spectroscopy. The results indicate that Fermi level pinning at the Fe3+/Fe2+ electron polaron formation level may intrinsically prohibit CuFeO2 from acquiring enough photovoltage to reach the water reduction potential. This result is complemented with density functional theory calculations as well. © 2020 The Authors. Published by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim