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Cherif Y, Azzi H, Sridharan K, Ji S, Choi H, Allan MG, Benaissa S, Saidi-Bendahou K, Damptey L, Ribeiro CS, Krishnamurthy S, Nagarajan S, Maroto-Valer MM, Kuehnel MF, Pitchaimuthu S. Facile Synthesis of Gram-Scale Mesoporous Ag/TiO 2 Photocatalysts for Pharmaceutical Water Pollutant Removal and Green Hydrogen Generation. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:1249-1261. [PMID: 36643558 PMCID: PMC9835632 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c06657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This work demonstrates a two-step gram-scale synthesis of presynthesized silver (Ag) nanoparticles impregnated with mesoporous TiO2 and evaluates their feasibility for wastewater treatment and hydrogen gas generation under natural sunlight. Paracetamol was chosen as the model pharmaceutical pollutant for evaluating photocatalytic performance. A systematic material analysis (morphology, chemical environment, optical bandgap energy) of the Ag/TiO2 photocatalyst powder was carried out, and the influence of material properties on the performance is discussed in detail. The experimental results showed that the decoration of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles (size between 80 and 100 nm) with 5 nm Ag nanoparticles (1 wt %) induced visible-light absorption and enhanced charge carrier separation. As a result, 0.01 g/L Ag/TiO2 effectively removed 99% of 0.01 g/L paracetamol in 120 min and exhibited 60% higher photocatalytic removal than pristine TiO2. Alongside paracetamol degradation, Ag/TiO2 led to the generation of 1729 μmol H2 g-1 h-1. This proof-of-concept approach for tandem pollutant degradation and hydrogen generation was further evaluated with rare earth metal (lanthanum)- and nonmetal (nitrogen)-doped TiO2, which also showed a positive response. Using a combination of ab initio calculations and our new theory model, we revealed that the enhanced photocatalytic performance of Ag/TiO2 was due to the surface Fermi-level change of TiO2 and lowered surface reaction energy barrier for water pollutant oxidation. This work opens new opportunities for exploiting tandem photocatalytic routes beyond water splitting and understanding the simultaneous reactions in metal-doped metal oxide photocatalyst systems under natural sunlight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yassine Cherif
- Laboratoire
de Catalyse et Synthèse en Chimie Organique, Université de Tlemcen, BP 119, Tlemcen13000, Algeria
| | - Hajer Azzi
- Laboratoire
de Catalyse et Synthèse en Chimie Organique, Université de Tlemcen, BP 119, Tlemcen13000, Algeria
- Institut
des Sciences et de la Technologie, Université d’Ain
Témouchent, BP
284, 46000Ain Témouchent, Algeria
| | - Kishore Sridharan
- Department
of Nanoscience and Technology, School of Physical Sciences, University of Calicut, P. O. Thenhipalam673635, India
| | - Seulgi Ji
- Theoretical
Materials & Chemistry Group, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Cologne, Greinstr. 6, 50939Cologne, Germany
| | - Heechae Choi
- Theoretical
Materials & Chemistry Group, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Cologne, Greinstr. 6, 50939Cologne, Germany
| | - Michael G. Allan
- Department
of Chemistry, Swansea University, Singleton Park, SwanseaSA2 8PP, United Kingdom
| | - Sihem Benaissa
- Institut
des Sciences et de la Technologie, Université d’Ain
Témouchent, BP
284, 46000Ain Témouchent, Algeria
| | - Karima Saidi-Bendahou
- Laboratoire
de Catalyse et Synthèse en Chimie Organique, Université de Tlemcen, BP 119, Tlemcen13000, Algeria
| | - Lois Damptey
- School of
Engineering & Innovation, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton KeynesMK7 6AA, United Kingdom
| | - Camila Silva Ribeiro
- School of
Engineering & Innovation, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton KeynesMK7 6AA, United Kingdom
| | - Satheesh Krishnamurthy
- School of
Engineering & Innovation, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton KeynesMK7 6AA, United Kingdom
| | - Sanjay Nagarajan
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, BathBA2 7AY, United Kingdom
| | - M. Mercedes Maroto-Valer
- Research
Centre for Carbon Solutions, Institute of Mechanical and Processing
Engineering, School of Engineering & Physical Science, Heriot-Watt University, EdinburghEH14 4AS, United Kingdom
| | - Moritz F. Kuehnel
- Department
of Chemistry, Swansea University, Singleton Park, SwanseaSA2 8PP, United Kingdom
- Fraunhofer
Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES, Am Haupttor 4310, 06237Leuna, Germany
| | - Sudhagar Pitchaimuthu
- Research
Centre for Carbon Solutions, Institute of Mechanical and Processing
Engineering, School of Engineering & Physical Science, Heriot-Watt University, EdinburghEH14 4AS, United Kingdom
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Eidsvåg H, Bentouba S, Vajeeston P, Yohi S, Velauthapillai D. TiO 2 as a Photocatalyst for Water Splitting-An Experimental and Theoretical Review. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26061687. [PMID: 33802911 PMCID: PMC8002707 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26061687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrogen produced from water using photocatalysts driven by sunlight is a sustainable way to overcome the intermittency issues of solar power and provide a green alternative to fossil fuels. TiO2 has been used as a photocatalyst since the 1970s due to its low cost, earth abundance, and stability. There has been a wide range of research activities in order to enhance the use of TiO2 as a photocatalyst using dopants, modifying the surface, or depositing noble metals. However, the issues such as wide bandgap, high electron-hole recombination time, and a large overpotential for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) persist as a challenge. Here, we review state-of-the-art experimental and theoretical research on TiO2 based photocatalysts and identify challenges that have to be focused on to drive the field further. We conclude with a discussion of four challenges for TiO2 photocatalysts-non-standardized presentation of results, bandgap in the ultraviolet (UV) region, lack of collaboration between experimental and theoretical work, and lack of large/small scale production facilities. We also highlight the importance of combining computational modeling with experimental work to make further advances in this exciting field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Håkon Eidsvåg
- Department of Computing, Mathematics and Physics, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Inndalsveien 28, Box 5063, N-5009 Bergen, Norway;
- Correspondence: (H.E.); (D.V.); Tel.: +47-980-61-444 (H.E.); +47-55-58-77-11 (D.V.)
| | - Said Bentouba
- Department of Computing, Mathematics and Physics, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Inndalsveien 28, Box 5063, N-5009 Bergen, Norway;
| | - Ponniah Vajeeston
- Center for Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Box 1033 Blindern, N-0315 Oslo, Norway;
| | - Shivatharsiny Yohi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Jaffna, Sir. Pon, Ramanathan Rd, Jaffna 40000, Sri Lanka;
| | - Dhayalan Velauthapillai
- Department of Computing, Mathematics and Physics, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Inndalsveien 28, Box 5063, N-5009 Bergen, Norway;
- Correspondence: (H.E.); (D.V.); Tel.: +47-980-61-444 (H.E.); +47-55-58-77-11 (D.V.)
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