Dependences of water-photoelectrolysis efficiency on heights and packing densities of vertically arrayed ZnO nanorods (NRs) and ZnO microrods (MRs) were systematically studied for the first time over a wide range of light incidence angles, under the direction of nanooptics simulation. In the photoelectrolysis, dense NRs of 1.8 μm in height afforded the highest photocatalytic efficiencies, and f...

The use of colored semiconductor oxide like copper (II) oxide and nickel (II) oxide for photocatalytic bleaching of rose bengal was investigated in detail. In order to harness the solar energy, the effective wavelength of the photocatalyst is to be expanded into the visible region and that increases the rate of photocatalytic bleaching of the dye. Progress of the reaction was observed spect...

In order to utilize visible light in photocatalytic reactions, nitrogen atoms were doped in commercially available photocatalytic TiO2 powders by using an organic compound such as urea and guanidine. Analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated that N atoms were incorporated into two different sites of the bulk phase of TiO2. A significant shift of the absorption edge to a lower...

In this paper, ZnBiSbO4 was synthesized by a solid-state reaction method for the first time. The structural and photocatalytic properties of ZnBiSbO4 had been characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope and UV-visible spectrometer. ZnBiSbO4 crystallized with a pyroch...

Monodispersed nickel phosphide (Ni2P) nanoparticles were for the first time applied to photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from lactic acid aqueous solution under visible light LED irradiation using CdS nanorods as a photosensitizer. The system exhibited high photocatalytic hydrogen-generating activity and excellent stability in aqueous acidic media.

A highly efficient and robust heterogeneous photocatalytic hydrogen evolution system was established for the first time by using the CoP/CdS hybrid catalyst in water under solar irradiation. The H2-production rate can reach up to 254,000 μmol h(-1) g(-1) during 4.5 h of sunlight irradiation, which is one of the highest values ever reported on CdS photocatalytic systems in the literature.

Selective photocatalytic aerobic oxidation, which can be conducted under ambient conditions, is of great importance towards achieving sustainable chemistry. However, its practical applications are undermined by several challenges, such as low selectivity, sluggish reaction rates, and the requirement of UV light irradiation. Herein, we report a new concept of synergistic photocatalytic oxidation...

A g-C3N4/nanocarbon/ZnIn2S4 (CN/C/ZIS) nanocomposite with enhanced photocatalytic H2 production performance has been successfully synthesized. Based on the experimental results, for the first time, it has been demonstrated that nanocarbon could be integrated into a Z-scheme photocatalytic system and acted as an excellent solid electron mediator.

Dye effluents with low BOD/COD ratio and varied chemical structures are usually very recalcitrant to microbial degradation. Therefore, different process was used for the treatment of dye effluent. Heterogeneous photocatalyst process has been widely used as leading green technology for dye removal. The process utilizes a semiconductor photocatalyst (such as TiO2 or ZnO) and UV light to oxidize t...

In this work, the photocatalytic reduction of nitrate in water was examined using zinc oxide loaded with platinum nanoparticles and formic acid as a hole scavenger (electron donor). The data obtained in the structural characterization and in the nitrate photoreduction experiments showed that 1wt% Pt/ZnO photocatalyst had the highest photocatalytic activity and selectivity toward nitrogen. Selec...