Sol-gel synthesis of mesoporous mixed Fe2O3/TiO2 photocatalyst: application for degradation of 4-chlorophenol

Synthesis of P-(NiCo)CO3 /TiO2 /Ti Self-Supported Electrode with High Catalytic Activity and Stability for Hydrogen Evolution

Hydrogen is considered an ideal clean energy due to its high mass-energy density, and only water is generated after combustion. Water electrolysis is a sustainable method of obtaining a usable amount of pure hydrogen among the various hydrogen production methods. However, its development is still limited by applying expensive noble metal catalysts. Here, the dissolution-recrystallization process of TiO2 nanotube arrays in water with the hydrothermal reaction of a typical nickel-cobalt hydroxide synthesis process followed by phosphating to prepare a self-supported electrode with (NiCo)CO3 /TiO2 heterostructure named P-(NiCo)CO3 /TiO2 /Ti electrode is combined. The electrode exhibits an ultra-low overpotential of 31 mV at 10 mA  cm-2 with a Tafel slope of 46.2 mV dec-1 in 1 m KOH and maintained its stability after running for 500 h in 1 m KOH. The excellent catalytic activity can be attributed to the structure of nanotube arrays with high specific surface area, superhydrophilicity, and super aerophobicity on the electrode surface. In addition, the uniform (NiCo)CO3 /TiO2 heterostructure also accelerates the electron transfer on the electrode surface. Finally, DFT calculations demonstrate that phosphating also improves the ΔGH* and ΔGH2O of the electrode. The synthesis strategy also promotes the exploration of catalysts for other necessary electrocatalytic fields.

Rugged Forest Morphology of Magnetoplasmonic Nanorods that Collect Maximum Light for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

A feasible nanoscale framework of heterogeneous plasmonic materials and proper surface engineering can enhance photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting performance owing to increased light absorbance, efficient bulk carrier transport, and interfacial charge transfer. This article introduces a new magnetoplasmonic (MagPlas) Ni-doped Au@Fex Oy nanorods (NRs) based material as a novel photoanode for PEC water-splitting. A two stage procedure produces core-shell Ni/Au@Fex Oy MagPlas NRs. The first-step is a one-pot solvothermal synthesis of Au@Fex Oy . The hollow Fex Oy nanotubes (NTs) are a hybrid of Fe2 O3 and Fe3 O4 , and the second-step is a sequential hydrothermal treatment for Ni doping. Then, a transverse magnetic field-induced assembly is adopted to decorate Ni/Au@Fex Oy on FTO glass to be an artificially roughened morphologic surface called a rugged forest, allowing more light absorption and active electrochemical sites. Then, to characterize its optical and surface properties, COMSOL Multiphysics simulations are carried out. The core-shell Ni/Au@Fex Oy MagPlas NRs increase photoanode interface charge transfer to 2.73 mAcm-2 at 1.23 V RHE. This improvement is made possible by the rugged morphology of the NRs, which provide more active sites and oxygen vacancies as the hole transfer medium. The recent finding may provide light on plasmonic photocatalytic hybrids and surface morphology for effective PEC photoanodes.

ZnO doped C: Facile synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic degradation of dyes

Carbon doped ZnO nanoparticles have been synthesized from the thermal decomposition of Zinc citrate precursor. The precursor was synthesized from semi-solid paste and then subjected to calcination at 700 °C to produce ZnO nanoparticles. The precursor and ZnO were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, UV-visible (UV-Vis) spectra, Transmission Electron Microscope, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope, Energy Dispersive Analysis by X-ray (EDAX), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results ensured the formation of hexagonal 2D-ZnO nanoparticles with a layer thickness of 25 nm. The optical band gap of ZnO was determined and found to be 2.9 eV, which is lower than the bulk. Photocatalytic degradation of Fluorescein dye as an anionic dye and Rhodamine B as a cationic dye was evaluated via C-ZnO NPs under UV irradiation. ZnO displayed 99% degradation of Fluorescein dye after 240 min and a complete photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B dye after 120 min under UV irradiation.

Photodegradation of hazardous organic pollutants using titanium oxides -based photocatalytic: A review

Titanium oxide-based photocatalysts (TOBPs) have been widely utilized as potential materials for numerous applications, such as wastewater treatment, water-splitting reactions, carbon dioxide (CO₂) reduction and photosynthesis. However, the large bandgap of intrinsic TiO₂ limits their absorption toward visible light, which is the central part of the solar spectrum, resulting in low photocatalytic activities under sunlight. To overcome this obstacle, several strategies, such as doping with either metal or non-metal elements or combining with other compounds, are efficient ways to reduce the bandgap of TiO₂, leading to effectively extending their absorption toward the visible region and increasing their catalytic performance. In this review, we discussed the application of TOBPs for the photodegradation of hazardous organic pollutants in wastewater to produce quality reused water. The synthesis of TiO₂ and the enhancement of photocatalytic activities of TOBPs by different techniques with detailed information were provided. Application of TOBPs for decomposing hazardous organic pollutants such as dyes, phenolic compounds and pharmaceuticals under optimum conditions have been listed. Also, the photodegradation mechanisms of hazardous organic compounds have been investigated. This work also brings ideas for future perspectives and research plan to inhibit the disadvantages and expand the application of TOBPs to remove toxic organic pollutants.

Metal ferrites-based nanocomposites and nanohybrids for photocatalytic water treatment and electrocatalytic water splitting

Photocatalytic degradation is one of the most promising technologies available for removing a variety of synthetic and organic pollutants from the environmental matrices because of its high catalytic activity, reduced energy consumption, and low total cost. Due to its acceptable bandgap, broad light-harvesting efficiency, significant renewability, and stability, Fe₂O₃ has emerged as a fascinating material for the degradation of organic contaminants as well as numerous dyes. This study thoroughly reviewed the efficiency of Fe₂O₃-based nanocomposite and nanomaterials for water remediation. Iron oxide structure and various synthetic methods are briefly discussed. Additionally, the electrocatalytic application of Fe₂O₃-based nanocomposites, including oxygen evolution reaction, oxygen reduction reaction, hydrogen evolution reaction, and overall water splitting efficiency, was also highlighted to illustrate the great promise of these composites. Finally, the ongoing issues and future prospects are directed to fully reveal the standards of Fe₂O₃-based catalysts. This review is intended to disseminate knowledge for further research on the possible applications of Fe₂O₃ as a photocatalyst and electrocatalyst.

Lewis ionic liquid-loaded Fe3O4@SiO2 magnetic catalytic microspheres coupled with persulfate for catalytic oxidative desulfurization

Functional ionic liquid loading magnetic Fe3O4@SiO2 microspheres with persulfate were applied to desulfurization.

Checking the Efficiency of a Magnetic Graphene Oxide–Titania Material for Catalytic and Photocatalytic Ozonation Reactions in Water

An easily recoverable photo-catalyst in solid form has been synthesized and applied in catalytic ozonation in the presence of primidone. Maghemite, graphene oxide and titania (FeGOTi) constituted the solid. Additionally, titania (TiO2) and graphene oxide–titania (GOTi) catalysts were also tested for comparative reasons. The main characteristics of FeGOTi were 144 m2/g of surface area; a 1.29 Raman D and G band intensity ratio; a 26-emu g−1 magnetic moment; maghemite, anatase and brookite main crystalline forms; and a 1.83 eV band gap so the catalyst can absorb up to the visible red region (677 nm). Single ozonation, photolysis, photolytic ozonation (PhOz), catalytic ozonation (CatOz) and photocatalytic ozonation (PhCatOz) were applied to remove primidone. In the presence of ozone, the complete removal of primidone was experienced in less than 15 min. In terms of mineralization, the best catalyst was GOTi in the PhCatOz processes (100% mineralization in 2 h). Meanwhile, the FeGOTi catalyst was the most efficient in CatOz. FeGOTi led, in all cases, to the highest formation of HO radicals and the lowest ozone demand. The reuse of the FeGOTi catalyst led to some loss of mineralization efficacy after four runs, likely due to C deposition, the small lixiviation of graphene oxide and Fe oxidation.

CuO nanoparticles decorated on hydroxyapatite/ferrite magnetic support: photocatalysis, cytotoxicity, and antimicrobial response

Photocatalysts supported in magnetic nanocomposites for application in environmental remediation processes have been evaluated for removing contaminants due to easy recovery and low toxicity to the ecosystem. In this work, copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles with photocatalytic properties were decorated on magnetic support constituted by hydroxyapatite (HAP) and ferrite to achieve efficiency in contaminated water remediation under visible light irradiation. First, nanomaterials were obtained by precipitation route, allowing fast and straightforward synthesis. Then, CuO nanoparticles with 6 nm diameter were efficiently decorated on magnetic support (25 nm), showing a high ability to absorb visible light irradiation (bandgap) to promote electronic transition and charge separation. Under visible irradiation, CuO promotes the H₂O₂ reduction in the conduction band (BC) to form hydroxyl radicals (^•OH), which are responsible for rhodamine B (RhB) dye degradation (> 90% in 60 min). Magnetic hysteresis assays confirmed the magnetic properties of HAP/ferrite support, which enabled the recovery and reuse of the magnetic photocatalyst efficiently up to 3 cycles. Due to low Cu²⁺ leaching after the photocatalytic application stage, cytotoxicity assay for the Allium cepa seeds did not exhibit abnormal cells other than those commonly found. Furthermore, the CuO-decorated nanoparticles showed bactericidal activity against S. aureus (Gram-positive) and E. coli (Gram-negative) microorganisms, being more significant for the first one. Thus, the developed nanocomposite of CuO nanoparticles decorated on the magnetic support surface showed to be a complete system for water remediation, acting in contaminant degradation under visible light irradiation and bactericidal control with environmentally friendly characteristics.Graphical abstract CuO nanoparticles decorated on hydroxyapatite/ferrite magnetic support acting as a photocatalytic and bactericidal system.

Heterostructured Nanoscale Photocatalysts via Colloidal Chemistry for Pollutant Degradation

With the further acceleration in the industrialization process, organic pollutants and gas pollution in the environment have posed severe threats to human health. It has been a global challenge regarding achieving an efficient solution to pollutant degradation. In such a context, photocatalysts have attracted researchers’ attention for their simplicity, efficiency, cleanliness and low cost. However, the single photocatalyst is facing a research bottleneck owing to its narrow light absorption spectrum and high photocarrier recombination rate. Given that heterojunctions can achieve efficient separation of photogenerated carriers in space, constructing heterostructured photocatalysts has become the most perspective method to improve the performance of photocatalysts. Furthermore, nanoparticles prepared through colloidal chemistry have the characteristics of high dispersion, stability and adsorption, further enhancing the degradation efficiency of heterostructured photocatalysts. This article reviews the primary methods for preparing heterostructured photocatalysts through colloidal chemistry, classifies the heterojunction types by transport routes of photogenerated carriers and summarizes the recent progress of heterostructured photocatalysts in pollutant degradation. To implement environmental remediation, it is crucial to explore economical and efficient photocatalysts for practical applications. It is hoped that this review will stimulate further exploration of colloidal heterostructured photocatalysts for pollutant degradation.

Multifunctional flexible contact lens for eye health monitoring using inorganic magnetic oxide nanosheets

As a non-invasive innovative diagnosis platform, advanced flexible contact lenses can dynamically monitor vital ocular indicators, spot abnormalities and provide biofeedback guidance for real-time diagnosis and rehabilitation tracking of chronic eye diseases. However, most of the state-of-the-art reported contact lenses either can only monitor a single indicator at a time or realize multifunctional integration based on multiple materials. Herein, we developed a flexible multifunctional contact lens based on inorganic γ-Fe₂O₃@NiO magnetic oxide nanosheets, which can be attached conformally and seamlessly to the eyeball to simultaneously monitor glucose level in tears, eyeball movement, and intraocular pressure. The optimized contact lens has a reliable glucose detection limit (0.43 μmol), superior eye movement measurement accuracy (95.27%) and high intraocular pressure sensitivity (0.17 MHz mmHg^− 1). This work presents a concept in the biochemical and biophysical integrated sensing of ocular signals using contact lens via an innovative material, and provides a personalized and efficient way for health management.

Facile fabrication of Fe-TiO2 thin film and its photocatalytic activity

Fe3+-TiO2 (Fe-TiO2) thin films were successfully prepared using a "sandwich" approach. TiO2 NPs were doped with different Fe3+ content (0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2% molar ratio), and the modified TiO2 NPs were deposited on glass flat support by dip coating.Structural, morphological, optical, and photocatalytic properties of Fe-TiO2 thin films were studied. XPS spectra confirm the presence of Ti, Fe, O, and defective -OH groups at the material surface. The Fe 2p spectrum demonstrates the existence of Fe3+. SEM images indicate that the incorporation of Fe3+ deforms in some degree the homogeneity of the TiO2 system. Additionally, incorporation of Fe3+ ions to the network creates an impurity band near the VB due to the oxygen vacancies, resulting in the reduction of the effective optical band gap. Photocatalytic activity of fabricated thin films in the elimination of sulfamethoxazole (SMT) follows pseudo first-order kinetics. The highest SMT removal yields were achieved using the sample with 0.05%Fe. Additionally, the use of greater thicknesses improves the removal performance. However, material detachment limits the maximum usable value around 6 µm.Finally, stability and reusability of catalysts were confirmed studying the photocatalytic activity over three cycles and evaluating that no Fe3+ leaching occurred.

Green synthesis of MIL-100(Fe) derivatives and revealing their structure-activity relationship for 2,4-dichlorophenol photodegradation

MIL-100(Fe), a kind of iron-based metal-organic framework materials (MOFs), can be synthesized at room temperature or hydrothermal conditions, which are promising precursor materials for preparing photocatalysts to degrade some recalcitrant chlorophenols in industrial wastewater. However, the relationship between the structural characterization of MIL-100(Fe) derivatives and their photodegradation behavior of chlorophenol pollutants is still unclear. Thus, in this work, a porous Z-scheme α-Fe₂O₃/MIL-100(Fe) composite was successfully fabricated via partial-pyrolysis of MIL-100(Fe) precursor synthesized through green synthesis route, which was further used for degrading high-concentration of 2,4-dichlorophenol under visible-light illumination (λ > 420 nm). The effects of synthesis route and pyrolysis temperature of MIL-100(Fe) on the degradation efficiencies of as-derived materials for 2,4-dichlorophenol were investigated. The structure-activity relationship was illuminated in detail. Otherwise, the influence of several process factors, i.e., initial concentration and pH of the 2,4-dichlorophenol solution, catalyst dosage on the degradation efficiency of 2,4-dichlorophenol has also been performed. The removal efficiency of 2,4-dichlorophenol with the initial concentration of 100 mg L^-1 reached up to 87.65% under optimized conditions. Lastly, the possible mechanism was explored based on trapping experiments and some other characterization results. The study in this paper not only exhibited new insight into the modified α-Fe₂O₃ material with high photocatalytic activity but also provided a promising method for treating wastewater containing 2,4-dichlorophenol or other similar organic pollutants.

Titanium dioxide based nanocomposites - Current trends and emerging strategies for the photocatalytic degradation of ruinous environmental pollutants

Many ruinous pollutants are omnipresent in the environment and among them; pesticides are xenobiotic and pose to be a bio-recalcitrance. Their detrimental ecological and environmental impacts attract attention of environmental excerpts and the surge of stringent regulations have endows the need of a technically feasible treatment. This critical review emphasizes about the occurrence, abundance and fate of structurally distinct pesticides in different environment. The practiced remedial strategies and in particular, the advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) those utilize the photo-catalytic properties of nano-composites for the degradation of pollutants are critically discussed. Photo-catalytic degradation utilizes many composite materials at nano-scale level, wherein synthesis of nano-composites with appropriate precursors and other adjoining functional moieties are of prime importance. Therefore, suitable starter materials along with the reaction conditions are prerequisite for effectively tailoring the nano-composites. The aforementioned aspects and their customized applications are critically discussed. The associated challenges, opportunities and process economics of degradation using photo-catalytic AOP techniques are highlighted and in addition, the review tries to explain how best the photo-degradation can be a stand-alone tool with a societal importance. Conclusively, the future prospects for undertaking new researches in photo-catalytic breakdown of pollutants that can be judiciously sustainable.

DFT study on the electronic structure and optical properties of an Au-deposited α-Fe2O3 (001) surface

The electronic structure and optical properties of gold clusters deposited on an α-Fe₂O₃ surface were studied by using density functional theory (DFT), with a special emphasis on the influence of Au cluster sizes. There is a strong interaction between Au clusters and the α-Fe₂O₃ surface, and the binding energy increases with an increase of Au cluster size. The Au atoms of the gold cluster are bonded to the iron atoms of the α-Fe₂O₃ surface for the Au/α-Fe₂O₃ system, and the electrons transfer from the Au cluster to the α-Fe₂O₃ surface with the largest number of electrons transferred for 4Au/α-Fe₂O₃. The peaks of the refractive index, extinction coefficient and dielectric function induced by Au clusters appear in the visible range, which results in the enhanced optical absorption for the Au/α-Fe₂O₃ system. The optical absorption intensifies with increasing Au cluster size in the visible range, showing a maximum value for 4Au/α-Fe₂O₃. Further increasing the Au cluster size above 4Au results in a decrease in absorption intensity. The results are in good agreement with those of the refractive index, extinction coefficient and dielectric function.

The electronic structure and optical properties of gold clusters deposited on an α-Fe₂O₃ surface were studied by using density functional theory (DFT), with a special emphasis on the influence of Au cluster sizes.

Magnetic photocatalysts from δ-FeOOH and TiO2 and application in reactions for degradation of methylene blue and paracetamol with UV-C and sunlight

Water contamination is a common problem, especially considering dyes and drugs disposal. A possible and effective treatment method to remove these organic pollutants from water is photocatalytic reaction. This study aimed to improve the photocatalytic properties of TiO₂ using iron oxides (Ti/Fe composite). Different magnetic photocatalysts based on commercial TiO₂ were obtained with 30, 50, and 80% (wt./wt.) of TiO₂ supported on maghemite. X-ray diffraction with Rietveld refinement confirms the presence of γ-Fe₂O₃, α-Fe₂O₃, anatase, and rutile, as well as the relative percentages of the phases present in each photocatalyst. The magnetic properties were certified by VSM and sedimentation kinetics in the presence of a magnetic field. Besides their magnetic properties, UV-vis DRS shows that the obtained photocatalysts presented lower bandgap values when compared with TiO₂. These factors allowed the materials to absorb radiation in the visible-light region and the separation from the reaction medium by the application of magnetic field. It was observed an enhancement of photodegradation reaction of methylene blue (MB) and paracetamol (PC). For example, when the content of TiO₂ increased from 30 to 80% (wt./wt.), the efficiency increased from 58 to 99% (for MB) and 39 for 80% (for PC) under UV (λ = 254 nm). The reactions carried out with solar radiation showed 56 to 95% efficiency to discolor MB. In addition, the results of sedimentation kinetics and characterization confirmed the goals of the synthesis.

Biosynthesis Microwave-Assisted of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with Ziziphus jujuba Leaves Extract: Characterization and Photocatalytic Application

The present work is intended to biosynthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) via facile and modern route using aqueous Ziziphus jujuba leaves extract assisted by microwave and explore their photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange anionic dye and methylene blue cationic dye under solar irradiation. The biosynthesized microwave assisted ZnO NPs were characterized and the results showed that ZnO NPs contain hexagonal wurtzite and characterized with a well-defined spherical-like shape with an outstanding band gap (2.70 eV), average particle size of 25 nm and specific surface area of 11.4 m2/g. The photocatalytic degradation of the MO and MB dyes by biosynthesized ZnO NPs under solar irradiation was studied and the results revealed the selective nature of the ZnO NPs for the adsorption and further photocatalytic degradation of the MO dye compared to the MB dye. In addition, the photocatalytic degradation of MO and MB dyes by the ZnO NPs under solar radiation was fitted by the first-order kinetics. Moreover, the photodegradation mechanism proposed that superoxide ions and hydroxyl radicals are the main reactive species.

Synthesis of Magnetic α-Fe2O3/Rutile TiO2 Hollow Spheres for Visible-Light Photocatalytic Activity

The high recombination rate of the electron-hole pair on the surface of rutile TiO2 (RT) reduces its photocatalytic performance, although it has high thermodynamic stability and few internal grain defects. Therefore, it is necessary for RT to develop effective methods to reduce electron-hole pair recombination. In this study, magnetic α-Fe2O3/Rutile TiO2 self-assembled hollow spheres were fabricated via a facile hydrothermal reaction and template-free method. Based on the experimental result, phosphate concentration was found to play a crucial role in controlling the shape of these hollow α-Fe2O3/RT nanospheres, and the optimal concentration is 0.025 mM. Due to a heterojunction between α-Fe2O3 and RT, the electron-hole pair recombination rate was reduced, the as-synthesized hollow α-Fe2O3/RT nanospheres exhibited excellent photocatalysis in rhodamine B (RhB) photodegradation compared to α-Fe2O3 and RT under visible-light irradiation, and the degradation rate was about 16% (RT), 60% (α-Fe2O3), and 93% (α-Fe2O3/RT) after 100 min. Moreover, α-Fe2O3/RT showed paramagnetism and can be recycled to avoid secondary environmental pollution.

A porphyrin-conjugated TiO2/CoFe2O4 nanostructure photocatalyst for the selective production of aldehydes under visible light

A ZnTCPP-TiO₂/CoFe₂O₄ nanohybrid easily reusable using a permanent magnet without losing its reactivity for the selective production of aldehydes from a mechanistic point of view.

A review on exploration of Fe2O3 photocatalyst towards degradation of dyes and organic contaminants

Photocatalytic degradation is among the promising technology for removal of various dyes and organic contaminants from environment owing to its excellent catalytic activity, low energy utilization, and low cost. As one of potential photocatalysts, Fe₂O₃ has emerged as an important material for degradation of numerous dyes and organic contaminants caused by its tolerable band gap, wide harvesting of visible light, good stability and recyclability. The present review thoroughly summarized the classification, synthesis route of Fe₂O₃ with different morphologies, and several modifications of Fe₂O₃ for improved photocatalytic performance. These include the incorporation with supporting materials, formation of heterojunction with other semiconductor photocatalysts, as well as the fabrication of Z-scheme. Explicitly, the other photocatalytic applications of Fe₂O₃, including for removal of heavy metals, reduction of CO₂, evolution of H₂, and N₂ fixation are also deliberately discussed to further highlight the huge potential of this catalyst. Moreover, the prospects and future challenges are also comprised to expose the unscrutinized criteria of Fe₂O₃ photocatalyst. This review aims to contribute a knowledge transfer for providing more information on the potential of Fe₂O₃ photocatalyst. In the meantime, it might give an idea for utilization of this photocatalyst in other environmental remediation application.

Photocatalytic nitrogen fixation on transition metal modified TiO2 nanosheets under simulated sunlight

Transition metal modified TiO₂ was synthesized using a microwave assisted hydrothermal method for efficient photocatalytic nitrogen fixation under simulated sunlight.

Large-scale study for the photocatalytic degradation of paracetamol using Fe2O3/TiO2 nanocomposite catalyst and CPC reactor under natural sunlight radiations

Heterogeneous photocatalysis is a promising advanced oxidation process for the degradation of emerging contaminants. In this regard, Hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) doped TiO₂ nanocomposite catalyst was synthesized via sol-gel method. The catalyst was prepared in large quantities (225 g) comparatively with other studies and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and nitrogen gas physisorption studies. The bandgap of the synthesized catalyst was determined using UV-vis diffused reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and the point of zero charge (PZC) was identified by measuring the zeta potential (ζ-potential) of the nanoparticles. A large-scale study was conducted using a modified Compound Parabolic Collector Reactor (CPCR) for the degradation of paracetamol under natural sunlight irradiations. The operating parameters including the initial concentration of paracetamol, initial pH of the solution, and catalyst loading were optimized using face-centered central composite design (FCCD) based on response surface method (RSM) to obtain the maximum degradation efficiency of paracetamol. •The simplified and direct sol-gel method described helps in the synthesis of a novel nanocomposite catalyst (Fe₂O₃/TiO₂) in large quantities while maintaining good characteristics compared to other methods.•The described treatment method using the modified CPCR will allow the degradation of paracetamol in a more sustainable and green manner.•Optimizing the operating parameters that have a significant influence on the degradation of paracetamol will contribute towards higher degradation rates.

Respective construction of Type-II and direct Z-scheme heterostructure by selectively depositing CdS on {001} and {101} facets of TiO2 nanosheet with CDots modification: A comprehensive comparison

Directional deposition has always been a focus issue in the construction of specific heterostructure. Herein, for the first time, we have demonstrated that the CdS could be selectively deposited on {001} or {101} facets of TiO₂ nanosheet, and two different charge transfer processes were formed. First, the selective deposition of CdS on {001} facets of TiO₂ nanosheet ({001}TiO₂/CdS) would form the Type-II heterostructure, which seriously weakened the redox ability of {001}TiO₂/CdS and directly resulted in the low photocatalytic performance (4-Chlorophenol (4-CP), 61.92% in 40 min) and serious photocorrosion of CdS. In contrary, the selective deposition of CdS on {101} facets of TiO₂ nanosheet ({101}TiO₂/CdS) could construct direct Z-scheme heterostructure with significantly increased photocatalytic 4-CP degradation efficiency (96.12%), much higher than pristine TiO₂ nanosheet (87.21%). The hybrids were further modified by carbon nanodots (CDots) ({101}TiO₂/CdS/CDots) to enhance photocatalytic performance (99.84%). The obtained direct Z-scheme {101}TiO₂/CdS/CDots showed excellent stability and anti-photocorrosion ability. The synergistic effect between TiO₂ nanosheet, CdS and CDots was expounded through characterization analyses, and the photocatalytic reaction mechanism was proposed in detail. Toxicity assessment authenticated good biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity of {101}TiO₂/CdS/CDots. Our discovery was expected to drive great advances in the use of TiO₂ nanosheet for environmental remediation.

Photocorrosion resistant Ag2CO3@Fe2O3/TiO2-NT nanocomposite for efficient visible light photocatalytic degradation activities

Ternary nanocomposite Ag₂CO₃@Fe₂O₃/TiO₂-NT (AFT), compared with binary Fe₂O₃/TiO₂-NT (FTNT) and TiO₂ nanotube (TNT), showed remarkably enhanced performance for catalytic photodegradation of phenol compounds in the presence of solar irradiation. AFT nanocomposite performed high degradation efficiency (96.5%) and high degree of sustainability. The unique catalytic properties of the nanocomposite such as synergetic light absorption, efficient charge separation-transfer and resistance toward photocorrosion suggested three possible alternative mechanisms for transferring photogenerated electrons. Ag₂CO₃@Fe₂O₃/TiO₂-NT nanocomposite may have a potential application for the industrial treatment of wastewater containing toxic organic contamination.

TiO2-based (Fe3O4, SiO2, reduced graphene oxide) magnetically recoverable photocatalysts for imazalil degradation in a synthetic wastewater

Magnetite (Fe₃O₄), a core-shell material (SiO₂@Fe₃O₄), and reduced graphene oxide-Fe₃O₄ (referred as rGO-MN) were used as supports of a specific highly active TiO₂ photocatalyst. Thermal treatments at 200 or 450 °C, different atmospheres (air or N₂), and TiO₂:support weight ratios (1.0, 1.5, or 2.0) were investigated. X-ray diffractograms revealed that magnetite is not oxidized to hematite when the core-shell SiO₂@Fe₃O₄ material-or a N₂ atmosphere (instead of air) in the thermal treatment-was employed to prepare the TiO₂-based catalysts (the magnetic properties being preserved). The materials treated with N₂ were first tested for degradation of imazalil (a well-known fungicide) in deionized water. The best compromise between the photocatalytic activity, magnetic separation, and Fe leached (1.61 mg L^-1, i.e., below the threshold for water reuse in irrigation) was found for the magnetic catalyst prepared with SiO₂@Fe₃O₄, an intermediate TiO₂:support ratio (1.5), and treated at 200 °C under N₂ atmosphere (i.e., SiO₂@Fe₃O₄-EST-1.5-200-N₂). This material was then tested for the treatment of imazalil in a synthetic wastewater, SW (with a chemical composition simulating an effluent resulting from fruit postharvest activity). This SW has a pH of 4.2 and the experiments were carried out at this natural pH₀ and at neutral conditions (keeping pH at 7 along the reaction). The magnetic catalyst was more active than bare TiO₂ for the treatment of imazalil in SW at natural pH. Since Fe leaching was observed (3.53 mg L^-1), added H₂O₂ enhanced both imazalil degradation and mineralization. Conveniently, these catalysts can be readily recovered by using a conventional magnetic field, as demonstrated over three consecutive recycling runs. Graphical abstract % Imazalil conversion using different magnetic catalysts and comparison with bare TiO₂.

Zn0-CNTs-Fe3O4 catalytic in situ generation of H2O2 for heterogeneous Fenton degradation of 4-chlorophenol

A novel Zn⁰-CNTs-Fe₃O₄ composite was synthesized by the chemical co-precipitation combined with high sintering process at nitrogen atmosphere. The as-prepared composite was characterized by SEM, EDS, XRD, XPS, VSM and N₂ adsorption/desorption experiments. A novel heterogeneous Fenton-like system, composed of Zn⁰-CNTs-Fe₃O₄ composite and dissolved oxygen (O₂) in solution, which can in situ generate H₂O₂ and OH, was used for the degradation of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP). The influences of various operational parameters, including the initial pH, dosage of Zn⁰-CNTs-Fe₃O₄ and initial concentration of 4-CP on the removal of 4-CP were investigated. The removal efficiencies of 4-CP and total organic carbon (TOC) were 99% and 57%, respectively, at the initial pH of 1.5, Zn⁰-CNTs-Fe₃O₄ dosage of 2 g/L, 4-CP initial concentration of 50 mg/L and oxygen flow rate of 400 mL/min. Based on the results of the radical scavenger effect study, the hydroxyl radical was considered as the main reactive oxidants in Zn⁰-CNTs-Fe₃O₄/O₂ system and a possible degradation pathway of 4-CP was proposed.

Improving photoelectrochemical reduction of Cr(VI) ions by building α-Fe2O3/TiO2 electrode

Photoelectrochemical process is an environmentally friendly technology and has a wide application in the control of environmental pollutants. Efficient nanophotocatalysts responsive to visible light are still highly attractive. In this work, α-Fe₂O₃/TiO₂ were grown on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates by hydrothermal method for photoelectrochemical reduction of Cr(VI). Compared with the separate α-Fe₂O₃ and TiO₂ electrodes, the composite α-Fe₂O₃/TiO₂ electrodes show higher photocurrent density. Under visible light irradiation, 100% removal efficiency of Cr(VI) was obtained after 40 min treatment. The composite α-Fe₂O₃/TiO₂ electrodes showed an enhanced absorbance in visible light region and had good stability to photoelectrochemical reduction of Cr(VI). The role of hole scavengers (citric acid and oxalic acid) and pH values was systematically investigated. This novel intensification approach provides new insight on the application of photoelectrochemical reduction in environmental remediation.