0000000000133172
AUTHOR
B. Lucas-granados
Visible-light photoelectrodegradation of diuron on WO3 nanostructures
[EN] The degradation of pesticide diuron has been explored by photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) under visible light illumination using two different WO3 nanostructures, obtained by anodization of tungsten. The highest degradation efficiency (73%) was obtained for WO3 nanosheets synthesized in the presence of small amounts of hydrogen peroxide (0.05 M). For that nanostructure, the kinetic coefficient for diuron degradation was 133% higher than that for the other nanostructure (anodized in the presence of fluoride anions). These results have been explained by taking into account the different architecture and dimensions of the two WO3 nanostructures under study.
Customized WO3 nanoplatelets as visible-light photoelectrocatalyst for the degradation of a recalcitrant model organic compound (methyl orange)
[EN] WO3 nanoplatelets have been synthesized by electrochemical anodization in acidic electrolytes containing two different complexing agents: fluorides and hydrogen peroxide. The influence of the morphology and size of these nanoplatelets on their photoelectrocatalytic performance has been studied following the degradation of a model organic recalcitrant compound, such as methyl orange (MO). The effect of several supporting electrolytes on this photodegradation process has also been checked. The best MO decoloration was observed for nanoplatelets fabricated in the presence of low H2O2 concentrations, whose distribution and small size made them expose a very high surface area to the problem…
Elimination of pesticide atrazine by photoelectrocatalysis using a photoanode based on WO3 nanosheets
[EN] The photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) degradation of a persistent and toxic herbicide, atrazine, has been investigated by using a novel and high-performance WO3 nanostructure in the form of nanosheets/nanorods as photoanode. The nanostructure has been synthesized by anodization in acidic media in the presence of a very small amount (0.05 M) of H2O2, and its morphology, as well as its electrochemical and photoelectrochemical properties have been characterized. Atrazine was completely degraded after similar to 180 min of reaction following pseudo-first order kinetics, and 2-hydroxyatrazine was identified as the main intermediate species. Moreover, the s-triazine ring in cyanuric acid (the fina…
Influence of electrolyte temperature on the synthesis of iron oxide nanostructures by electrochemical anodization for water splitting
[EN] Iron oxide nanostructures are an attractive option for being used as photocatalyst in photoelectrochemical applications such as water splitting for hydrogen production. Nanostructures can be obtained by different techniques, and electrochemical anodization is one of the simplest methods which allows high control of the obtained morphology by controlling its different operational parameters. In the present study, the influence of the electrolyte temperature during electrochemical anodization under stagnant and hydrodynamic conditions was evaluated. Temperature considerably affected the morphology of the obtained nanostructures and their photoelectrochemical behavior. Several techniques …
A simple method to fabricate high-performance nanostructured WO3 photocatalysts with adjusted morphology in the presence of complexing agents
[EN] The rich and complex chemistry of tungsten was employed to synthesize innovative WO3 nanoplatelets/nanosheets by simple anodization in acidic electrolytes containing different concentrations of complexing agents or ligands, namely F- and H2O2. The morphological and photoelectrochemical properties of these nanostructures were characterized. The best of these nanostructures generated stable photocurrent densities of ca. 1.8 mA cm(-2) at relatively low bias potentials (for WO3) of 0.7 V-Ag/AgCl under simulated solar irradiation, which can be attributed to a very high active surface area. This work demonstrates that the morphology and dimensions of these nanostructures, as well as their ph…
Photoelectrocatalyzed degradation of a pesticides mixture solution (chlorfenvinphos and bromacil) by WO3 nanosheets
[EN] A photoelectrocatalyst consisting of WO3 nanosheets or nanorods has been synthesized by electrochemical anodization under hydrodynamic conditions, and has been used for the degradation of two toxic pesticides: chlorfenvinphos and bromacil. Nanostructures have been characterized by FESEM and Raman spectroscopy. Photoelectrochemical degradation tests have been carried out both for individual pesticide solutions and for a mixture solution, and the concentration evolution with time has been followed by UV¿Vis spectrophotometry. For individual pesticides, pseudo-first order kinetic coefficients of 0.402 h¿1 and 0.324 h¿1 have been obtained for chlorfenvinphos and bromacil, respectively, whi…
Controlled hydrodynamic conditions on the formation of iron oxide nanostructures synthesized by electrochemical anodization: Effect of the electrode rotation speed
[EN] Iron oxide nanostructures are of particular interest because they can be used as photocatalysts in water splitting due to their advantageous properties. Electrochemical anodization is one of the best techniques to synthesize nanostructures directly on the metal substrate (direct back contact). In the present study, a novel methodology consisting of the anodization of iron under hydrodynamic conditions is carried out in order to obtain mainly hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) nanostructures to be used as photocatalysts for photoelectrochemical water splitting applications. Different rotation speeds were studied with the aim of evaluating the obtained nanostructures and determining the most attract…
Study of the annealing conditions and photoelectrochemical characterization of a new iron oxide bi-layered nanostructure for water splitting
Iron oxide nanostructures have emerged as promising materials for being used as photocatalysts for hydrogen production due to their advantageous properties. However, their low carrier mobility and short hole diffusion length limit their efficiency in water splitting. To overcome these drawbacks, in the present study, we synthetized a new hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) bi-layered nanostructure consisting of a top nanosphere layer and a nanotubular underneath one by electrochemical anodization. Annealing parameters such as temperature, heating rate and atmosphere were studied in detail in order to determine the optimum annealing conditions for the synthetized nanostructure. The obtained new bi-layere…
Photoelectrochemical removal of chlorfenvinphos by using WO3 nanorods: Influence of annealing temperature and operation pH
[EN] A visible-light driven photoelectrochemical degradation process has been applied to a solution polluted with the organophosphate insecticide chlorfenvinphos. Different WO3 nanosheets/nanorods have been used as photoanodes. These nanostructured electrodes have been fabricated by anodization of tungsten and, subsequently, they have been subjected to a thermal treatment (annealing). The combined influence of annealing temperature (400¿°C and 600¿°C) and operation pH (1 and 3) on the photoelectrocatalytic behavior of these nanorods has been examined through a statistical analysis. Morphological, structural and photoelectrochemical characterizations have also been carried out. The chlorfenv…