UV-light promoted formation of boron nitride-fullerene composite and its photodegradation performance for antibiotics under visible light irradiation

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

Boron nitride (BN) coupled with various conventional and advanced photocatalysts has been demonstrated to exhibit extraordinary activity for photocatalytic degradation because of its unique properties, including a high surface area, constant wide-bandgap semiconducting property, high thermal-oxidation resistance, good hydrogen-adsorption performance, and high chemical/mechanical stability. However, only limited reviews have discussed the application of BN or BN-based nanomaterials as innovative photocatalysts, and it does not cover the recent results and the developments on the application of BN-based nanomaterials for water purification. Herein, we present a complete review of the present findings on the photocatalytic degradation of different contaminants by various BN-based nanomaterials. This review includes the following: (i) the degradation behavior of different BN-based photocatalysts for various contaminants, such as selected dye compounds, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pesticides, and inorganics; (ii) the stability/reusability of BN-based photocatalysts; and (iii) brief discussion for research areas/future studies on BN-based photocatalysts.

Impact of Polythiophene ((C4H4S)n; n = 3, 5, 7, 9) Units on the Adsorption, Reactivity, and Photodegradation Mechanism of Tetracycline by Ti-Doped Graphene/Boron Nitride (Ti@GP_BN) Nanocomposite Materials: Insights from Computational Study

This study addresses the formidable persistence of tetracycline (TC) in the environment and its adverse impact on soil, water, and microbial ecosystems. To combat this issue, an innovative approach by varying polythiophene ((C4H4S)n; n = 3, 5, 7, 9) units and the subsequent interaction with Ti-doped graphene/boron nitride (Ti@GP_BN) nanocomposites was applied as catalysts for investigating the molecular structure, adsorption, excitation analysis, and photodegradation mechanism of tetracycline within the framework of density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP-gd3bj/def2svp method. This study reveals a compelling correlation between the adsorption potential of the nanocomposites and their corresponding excitation behaviors, particularly notable in the fifth and seventh units of the polythiophene configuration. These units exhibit distinct excitation patterns, characterized by energy levels of 1.3406 and 924.81 nm wavelengths for the fifth unit and 1.3391 and 925.88 nm wavelengths for the seventh unit. Through exploring deeper, the examination of the exciton binding energy emerges as a pivotal factor, bolstering the outcomes derived from both UV-vis transition analysis and adsorption exploration. Notably, the calculated exciton binding energies of 0.120 and 0.103 eV for polythiophene units containing 5 and 7 segments, respectively, provide compelling confirmation of our findings. This convergence of data reinforces the integrity of our earlier analyses, enhancing our understanding of the intricate electronic and energetic interplay within these intricate systems. This study sheds light on the promising potential of the polythiophene/Ti-doped graphene/boron nitride nanocomposite as an efficient candidate for TC photodegradation, contributing to the advancement of sustainable environmental remediation strategies. This study was conducted theoretically; hence, experimental studies are needed to authenticate the use of the studied nanocomposites for degrading TC.

Boosting the photocatalytic hydrogen production performance of graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets by tailoring the cyano groups

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) is a promising visible light responsive photocatalyst for solar hydrogen production. However, pristine g-C₃N₄ suffers from severe charge recombination, resulting in a poor photocatalytic activity. Herein, a facile KOH-assisted sealed heating process is designed to tailor the electronic structure of g-C₃N₄, leading to a significantly enhanced and stable photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of 225.1 µmol h^-1 using only 50 mg of the photocatalyst. An excellent apparent quantum efficiency of 16.82% is achieved at 420 nm. Systematic studies reveal that KOH-assisted sealed heating can generate more cyano groups onto the framework of g-C₃N₄, which can increase the charge carrier density and reduce the surface charge transfer resistance, promoting charge separation and transfer. The new findings demonstrated in this work provide a facile strategy for the design of low-cost and efficient photocatalyst for solar fuel production.