Enhanced Solar Light Photocatalytic Activity of Ag Doped TiO2–Ag3PO4 Composites
Composites comprised of Ag3PO4 and bare TiO2 (TiO2@Ag3PO4) or silver doped TiO2 (Ag@TiO2&ndash
Sol-gel synthesis and photocatalytic activity of ZnO-SnO2 nanocomposites
Abstract ZnO–SnO 2 nanocomposites were synthesized by a facile sol–gel synthesis route and characterized through X-ray diffraction, BET specific surface area analysis, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was tested using the degradation of 4-nitrophenol under UV light as model reaction. The ZnO/SnO 2 molar ratio was varied in order to study its influence on the photoefficiency of the samples. The ZnO–SnO 2 nanocomposites showed higher photoactivity than the pure oxides and in particular the sample with ZnO/SnO 2 mol…
Photocatalytic activity of binary and ternary SnO2–ZnO–ZnWO4 nanocomposites
Binary and ternary SnO2-ZnO-ZnWO4 nanocomposites were prepared by a sol-gel route. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was evaluated through the decomposition of 4-nitrophenol and partial oxidation of 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol to p-anisaldehyde. All the mixed catalysts revealed higher photoactivity than bare ZnO, SnO2 or ZnWO4 and the best performances were exhibited by the binary nanocomposites. The high photocatalytic activity was explained by the presence of heterojunctions among different semiconductors that enhance the separation of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs, hindering their recombination. As a general consideration, an essential role was played by the electronic feat…
The influence of Al doping on the photocatalytic activity of nanostructured ZnO: The role of adsorbed water
Abstract Al doped ZnO nanoparticles (labeled as x% A-ZnO, x = 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5) were synthesized by a simple sol-gel method, characterized and tested as photocatalysts for the degradation of a model compound under UV-light irradiation. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and photoelectrochemical analysis have been performed to evidence their optical and electronic behavior. The structural features of the powders were highlighted by means of specific surface area (SSA) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. Al doping results in enhanced photocatalytic activity of the modified powders with respect to pure ZnO. In particular, the h…
Characterization and photoactivity of coupled ZnO-ZnWO4 catalysts prepared by a sol-gel method
Abstract ZnO–ZnWO4 nanocomposites were synthesized by a novel sol–gel method and characterized through X-ray diffraction, BET specific surface area analysis, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was evaluated using the degradation of 4-nitrophenol under UV light as probe reaction. The ZnO/ZnWO4 molar ratio was varied in order to study its influence on the photoefficiency of the mixed samples. The ZnO–ZnWO4 nanocomposites showed higher photoactivity than ZnO and ZnWO4. The high efficiency of the mixed samples was explained by the coupling and the intimate contact of two different…
Electron transfer in ZnO–Fe2O3 aqueous slurry systems and its effects on visible light photocatalytic activity
ZnFex (x = 0.025, 0.05, and 0.1) nanocomposites and pure ZnO and Fe2O3 photocatalysts were synthesized by a simple sol–gel route and characterized by means of specific surface area (SSA) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and transmission electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (TEM/EDS). Their photocatalytic activity was investigated under visible light by using methylene blue (MB) and benzoic acid (BA) as model compounds. Coupling ZnO and Fe2O3 results in higher photocatalytic activity with respect to the pure materials. Photoelectrochemical characterization performed in slurry systems allowed the elucidation of the electronic struc…
Features and application of coupled cold plasma and photocatalysis processes for decontamination of water
Dielectric barrier discharge plasma and photocatalysis have been proposed as tools for decontamination of process water, especially in food industry. The present investigation aims to redefine and identify the features of coupling the two technologies in terms of degradation efficiency of a model compound. Results show that, when the process is carried out in plasma activated water in the presence of irradiated TiO2, the efficiency of the integrated process is lower than the sum of the two processes acting separately. It is proposed that afterglow species, e.g. hydrogen peroxide and/or peroxynitrites could be activated by UVA light irradiation producing hydroxyl radicals in the liquid phase…