Effect of Urea–Hydrogen Peroxide Content on the Photocatalytic Activity of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using zinc acetate dihydrate, ethanol, and oxalic acid as precursor, solvent, and complexing agent, respectively, and urea–hydrogen peroxide (UHP) as, simultaneously, nitrogen precursor and oxygen donor. The structural, morphological, textural, and optical properties of ZnO photocatalysts were investigated using different characterization methods such as XRD, SEM, BET, and UV-Vis-DRS. The XRD patterns showed that the products consisted of ZnO and revealed the presence of nitrogen. SEM images revealed the agglomeration and aggregation of NPs. The photocatalytic activity of ZnO samples was estimated based on the photo-oxidation of 2-propanol under UV i…

Photocatalytic H2 evolution from aqueous solutions of oxygenated organic compounds in the presence of C3N4/reduced graphene oxide based photocatalysts

Composites of C3N4/reduced graphene oxide have been used as a cheap and promising photocatalysts for triethanolamine and ethanol photo-reforming with H2 generation in aqueous solution. The rate of H2 production over the best performing photocatalysts reached 1,415 μmol·h-1·g-1 which increases up to 57,306 in the presence of 1% of Pt. The apparent quantum efficiency of the optimal material was 7 % by using both LED and natural sunlight irradiation

Preparation of photocatalysts by physical methodologies

The synthesis of photocatalytic materials is an important task for obtaining better results in terms of activity and/or selectivity in photocatalysis. This chapter reports an overview of the main methodologies using physical techniques to obtain bulky, supported powders or films and coatings to be used as heterogeneous photocatalysts. The classical chemical methodologies for the preparation of photocatalytic materials are presented in the previous chapter, so the information presented here complements the aforementioned one. Materials scientists and engineers have made significant progresses in the improvement of methods of synthesis of nanomaterial solids by developing different apparatuse…

Nanotubi di titanato con Au in superficie per la foto-ossidazione selettiva di alcoli ad aldeidi

Catalytic Conversion of Glucose and Chlorella sp. into Furans in the Presence of Niobium Oxide

A series of Nb2O5 solid catalysts have been prepared to be used for the catalytic dehydration of glucose and sugars from algae Chlorella sp. into added value furans. The glucose transformation gave rise to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF). Chlorella sp. was used in the same catalytic conditions to be valorised to furans. By preliminary studies we concluded that the algae aqueous suspension needed a previous treatment in the presence of SiO2 pellets to liberate the carbohydrates that in the catalytic reaction in the presence of Nb2O5 materials gave rise 5-HMF and furfural. The best operative conditions and Nb2O5 catalysts were individuated. The most performant Nb2O5 catalyst also showed an ex…

Codeposition of Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles sandwiched between g-C3N4 and TiO2 nanosheets: Structure, characterization and high photocatalytic activity for efficiently degradation of dye pollutants

Novel ternary nanocomposite photocatalysts based on g-C3N4 /Fe3O4 /TiO2 nanosheet were synthesized using simple solid combustion, hydrothermal and wetness impregnation methods. The g-C3N4 nanosheet (2D)/ Fe3O4 /TiO2 nanosheet (2D) triad-interface nanocomposite arranged in the form of Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticle was sandwiched and effectively dispersed on the surface between g-C3N4 and TiO2 nanosheets. The synthesized composites were characterized by some specific techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electronic microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), specific su…

Preface to Materials Science in Photocatalysis