Photocatalytic boron nitride-based nanomaterials for the removal of selected organic and inorganic contaminants in aqueous solution: A review

Effects of Phosphorus Doping on Amorphous Boron Nitride's Chemical, Sorptive, Optoelectronic, and Photocatalytic Properties

Amorphous porous boron nitride (BN) represents a versatile material platform with potential applications in adsorptive molecular separations and gas storage, as well as heterogeneous and photo-catalysis. Chemical doping can help tailor BN's sorptive, optoelectronic, and catalytic properties, eventually boosting its application performance. Phosphorus (P) represents an attractive dopant for amorphous BN as its electronic structure would allow the element to be incorporated into BN's structure, thereby impacting its adsorptive, optoelectronic, and catalytic activity properties, as a few studies suggest. Yet, a fundamental understanding is missing around the chemical environment(s) of P in P-doped BN, the effect of P-doping on the material features, and how doping varies with the synthesis route. Such a knowledge gap impedes the rational design of P-doped porous BN. Herein, we detail a strategy for the successful doping of P in BN (P-BN) using two different sources: phosphoric acid and an ionic liquid. We characterized the samples using analytical and spectroscopic tools and tested them for CO2 adsorption and photoreduction. Overall, we show that P forms P-N bonds in BN akin to those in phosphazene. P-doping introduces further chemical/structural defects in BN's structure, and hence more/more populated midgap states. The selection of P source affects the chemical, adsorptive, and optoelectronic properties, with phosphoric acid being the best option as it reacts more easily with the other precursors and does not contain C, hence leading to fewer reactions and C impurities. P-doping increases the ultramicropore volume and therefore CO2 uptake. It significantly shifts the optical absorption of BN into the visible and increases the charge carrier lifetimes. However, to ensure that these charges remain reactive toward CO2 photoreduction, additional materials modification strategies should be explored in future work. These strategies could include the use of surface cocatalysts that can decrease the kinetic barriers to driving this chemistry.

Photocatalytic and electrocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A in the presence of graphene/graphene oxide-based nanocatalysts: A review

Bisphenol A (BPA), a widely recognized endocrine disrupting compound, has been discovered in drinking water sources/finished water and domestic wastewater influent/effluent. Numerous studies have shown photocatalytic and electrocatalytic oxidation to be very effective for the removal of BPA, particularly in the addition of graphene/graphene oxide (GO)-based nanocatalysts. Nevertheless, the photocatalytic and electrocatalytic degradation of BPA in aqueous solutions has not been reviewed. Therefore, this review gives a comprehensive understanding of BPA degradation during photo-/electro-catalytic activity in the presence of graphene/GO-based nanocatalysts. Herein, this review evaluated the main photo-/electro-catalytic degradation mechanisms and pathways for BPA removal under various water quality/chemistry conditions (pH, background ions, natural organic matter, promotors, and scavengers), the physicochemical characteristics of various graphene/GO-based nanocatalysts, and various operating conditions (voltage and current). Additionally, the reusability/stability of graphene/GO-based nanocatalysts, hybrid systems combined with ozone/ultrasonic/Fenton oxidation, and prospective research areas are briefly described.