WO3 thin films for photoelectrochemical purification of water

Enhanced Visible Light Active WO3 Thin Films Toward Air Purification: Effect of the Synthesis Conditions

Taking our current environmental situation in the world into consideration, people should face growing problems of air and water pollution. Heterogeneous photocatalysis is a highly promising tool to improve both air and water quality through decomposition/mineralization of contaminants directly into harmless CO₂ and H₂O under ambient conditions. In this contribution, we focused on the synthesis of self-assembly WO₃ thin films via an electrochemical approach in the aqueous electrolyte containing fluoride ions toward air purification. The effect of preparation conditions such as applied potential (10–50 V), anodization time (15–120 min), concentration of H₂SO₄ (0.5–1.5 M) and NaF (0.1–1.0 wt.%) on the morphology, photocurrent response, and photocatalytic activity addressed to removal of air pollutant in the presence of as-prepared WO₃ samples were thoroughly examined and presented. The results revealed the growth of nanoplatelets and their gradual transformation into flower-like structures. The oxide layers and platelet thickness of the WO₃ samples were found to be proportionally related with the synthesis conditions. The photocatalytic ability toward air purification was evaluated by degradation of toluene from air mixture using low-powered LEDs as an irradiation source (λ_max = 415 nm). The highest photoactivity was achieved in presence of the sample which possessed a well-ordered, regular shape and repeatable distribution of flower buds (100% of degradation). The results have confirmed that the oxide layer thickness of the anodic WO₃ significantly affected the photocatalytic activity, which increased with the increasing thickness of WO₃ (to 1.05 μm) and then had a downward trend. The photocurrent response evidenced that the well-organized sample had the highest ability in photocurrent generation under UV-Vis and Vis irradiation. Finally, a possible growth mechanism of WO₃ NFs was also discussed.

All-printed planar photoelectrochemical cells with digitated cathodes for the oxidation of diluted aqueous pollutants

A novel outline of a planar photoelectrochemical cell consisting of a semiconductor layer topped by subsequent layers of a digitated insulator and counter electrode is introduced. The use of vertically separated electrodes represents a major development in reducing the footprint (inactive areas) of planar electrochemical cells. The cells, consisting of a nanoparticular titania photoanode and a digitated, metallic cathode, were fabricated by a strictly additive process employing material printing as the exclusive deposition and patterning tool. Transparent conductive oxide-coated glass and polyethyleneterepthalate sheets were used as substrates; nanocrystalline titania dispersion bonded by a novel organosilica binder was used for the fabrication of the photoanode and gold or carbon inks for the fabrication of the digitated cathodes. Due to the digitated shaping of the cathode, photoelectrochemical response was not suffering from iR drop down to low electrolyte ionic strengths. The printed cells were used for electroassisted photocatalytic degradation experiments with aqueous solutions of coumarin. Considerable acceleration of the coumarin degradation rate compared to the plain photocatalytic mode was observed.

In situ synthesis and photocatalytic performance of WO3/ZnWO4 composite powders

The WO₃/ZnWO₄ composite powders were synthesized through an in situ reaction process with tunnel structure K₁₀W₁₂O₄₁·11H₂O filiform crystallites used as a precursor.

Properties and Application Perspective of Hybrid Titania-Silica Patterns Fabricated by Inkjet Printing

A hybrid titania-silica cold-setting sol has been developed that can be deposited onto a wide variety of surfaces without the need for high-temperature fixing and that is suitable for material printing deposition. Thin hybrid titania-silica coatings were patterned onto glass and PET substrates by inkjet printing. Well-defined hybrid titania-silica patterns, with thicknesses ranging from 40 to 400 nm, were fabricated by overprinting 1 to 10 layers. Excellent mechanical, optical, and photocatalytic properties were observed, making the reported material well suited for the fabrication of transparent self-cleaning coatings both on mineral and organic substrates. The printed patterns exhibit photoelectrochemical activity that can be further improved by thermal or photonic curing. A concept of fully printed interdigitated photoelectrochemical cells on flexible PET substrates utilizing the reported hybrid photocatalyst is disclosed as well.

Photoelectrochemical performance of multi-layered BiOx-TiO2/Ti electrodes for degradation of phenol and production of molecular hydrogen in water

Multi-layered BiO(x)-TiO(2) electrodes were used for the oxidation of chemical contaminants coupled with the production of H(2) characterized by a synergistic enhancement. The BiO(x)-TiO(2) electrodes were composed of a mixed-metal oxide array involving an under layer of TaO(x)-IrO(x), a middle layer of BiO(x)-SnO(2), and a top layer of BiO(x)-TiO(2) deposited in a series on both sides of Ti foil. Cyclic voltammograms showed that the BiO(x)-TiO(2) electrodes had an electrocatalytic activity for oxidation of phenol that was enhanced by 70% under illumination with AM 1.5 light. When the BiO(x)-TiO(2) anode was coupled with a stainless steel cathode in a Na(2)SO(4) electrolyte with phenol and irradiated with UV light at an applied DC voltage, the anodic phenol oxidation rate and the cathodic H(2) production rates were enhanced by factors of four and three, respectively, as compared to the sum of each light irradiation and direct DC electrolysis. These synergistic effects depend on the specific electrode composition and decrease on TaO(x)-IrO(x) and BiO(x)-SnO(2) anodes in the absence of a top layer of BiO(x)-TiO(2). These results indicate that the BiO(x)-TiO(2) layer functions as the key photo-electrocatalyst. The heavy doping level of Bi (25 mol%) in TiO(2) increases the electric conductivity of the parent TiO(2).