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Novel Photo(electro)catalysts for Energy and Environmental Applications

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A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Photocatalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 23354

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Dr. Xiangjiu Guan

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International Research Center for Renewable Energy (IRCRE), State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering (MFPE), Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU), 28 West Xianning Road, Xi'an 710049, China
Interests: solar energy conversion; photocatalysis; water splitting; hydrogen; CO₂ reduction

Dr. Shichao Zong

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Guest Editor

Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Water and Environment, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710064, China
Interests: solar energy conversion; photocatalysis; water splitting; hydrogen; solar steam generation
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Dear Colleagues,

Photo(electro)catalysis is an appealing approach to addressing energy and environmental issues to achieve the sustainable development of human society, which could provide cost-effective strategies for energy supply with solar fuel, chemical synthesis with energy-saving processes, and environmental purification with limited emissions. Therefore, developing novel photo(electro)catalysts plays a critical role in this specific research field and is becoming a hot research topic.

This Special Issue on “Novel Photo(electro)catalysts for Energy and Environmental Applications” will cover the most recent progress in design, synthesis, advanced characterization, mechanism investigation, and theoretical analysis of novel photo(electro)catalysts and photocatalytic systems, which includes but is not limited to their energy and environmental application in water splitting, CO₂ reduction, biomass conversion, and pollutant degradation. Review and original research papers within the scope of this Special Issue are welcomed, aiming to inspire more work for further development of this growing and prospering research field.

Submit your paper and select the Journal “Catalysts” and the Special Issue “Novel Photo(electro)catalysts for Energy and Environmental Applications” via: MDPI submission system. Please contact the Guest Editor or the journal editor (maeve.yue@mdpi.com) for any queries. Our papers will be published on a rolling basis and we will be pleased to receive your submission once you have finished it.

Dr. Xiangjiu Guan
Dr. Shichao Zong
Guest Editors

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Keywords

photocatalysis/photoelectrocatalysis photo(electro)catalysts synthesis
water splitting
CO₂ reduction
biomass conversion
pollutant degradation
advanced characterization

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 178 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Novel Photo(electro)catalysts for Energy and Environmental Applications

by Shichao Zong and Xiangjiu Guan

Catalysts 2023, 13(11), 1442; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13111442 - 15 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 939

Abstract

Photo(electro)catalysis is regarded as one of the most promising approaches to addressing energy and environmental issues and thus achieving the sustainable development of human society; as such, various catalytic materials have been developed in recent decades [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Photo(electro)catalysts for Energy and Environmental Applications)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

19 pages, 4782 KiB

Open AccessArticle

NiSe₂/Ag₃PO₄ Nanocomposites for Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalysts for Environmental Remediation Applications

by Madeeha Rani, Maida Murtaza, Aneeqa Amjad, Manzar Zahra, Amir Waseem and Aiyeshah Alhodaib

Catalysts 2023, 13(6), 929; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13060929 - 24 May 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1541

Abstract

This study investigated the use of NiSe₂/Ag₃PO₄ nanocomposite catalysts for the photocatalytic degradation of RhB and BPA pollutants. Samples of pure NiSe₂, Ag₃PO₄, and NiSe₂/Ag₃PO₄ composites with varying NiSe₂ (10%, 20%, and 30%) proportions were synthesized using hydrothermal techniques. The 20% NiSe₂/Ag₃PO₄ composite showed the greatest photocatalytic efficiency for both RhB and BPA degradation. The study also examined the impact of various factors, such as the initial concentration of dye, catalyst amount, pH, and reaction time, on the photodegradation process. The 20% NiSe₂/Ag₃PO₄ catalyst effectively degraded 10 ppm RhB in 20 min and 20 ppm BPA in 30 min. The physical properties of the samples were examined using SEM, PXRD, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The cycling runs of 20% NiSe₂/Ag₃PO₄ also exhibited improved stability compared to Ag₃PO₄, with a degradation rate of 99% for RhB and BPA. The combination and synergistic effect of NiSe₂ and Ag₃PO₄ played a vital role in enhancing the stability of the photocatalysts. Both the RhB and BPA photodegradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetic models with rate constants of 0.1266 min⁻¹ and 0.2275 min⁻¹, respectively. The study also presented a Z-scheme reaction mechanism to elucidate the process of photodegradation exhibited by the composites after active species capture experiments, which showed that superoxide anion radicals and holes were responsible for the photodegradation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Photo(electro)catalysts for Energy and Environmental Applications)

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14 pages, 3638 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis and Characterization of Fe Doped Aurivillius-Phase PbBi₂Nb₂O₉ Perovskite and Their Photocatalytic Activity on the Degradation of Methylene Blue

by Yunjang Gu, Minkyum Kim, Hee Soo Kim and Dong-Ha Lim

Catalysts 2023, 13(2), 399; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13020399 - 13 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1271

Abstract

A simple solid-state reaction was applied to synthesize Fe-doped perovskite-type PBFNO catalysts, and methylene blue decomposition studies were performed in the form of visible light according to the changes in the Fe doping content (0.4 to 1.9 mol ratio compared with Bi mol) and the amount of catalyst used (0.05 to 0.2 g used). As the Fe doping content increases, the absorbance and bang gap energy of the PBFNOs sample rapidly increase and decrease, respectively, because the Fe dopant in the PBNO lattice acts as an intermediate band between the valence and conduction bands of the PBNO and reduces the band gap energy. As a result, it showed a performance degradation of approximately 42% compared to the maximum performance. In addition, the presence of Fe dopants in the PBNO lattice greatly reduces the intensity of the photoluminescent lines. This is because the Fe dopant can play an important role in light-induced electron transfer and as a hole trap, reducing the recombination rate. Additionally, when too much photocatalyst was used (>0.1 g used), the Fe dopant played an important role as a light-induced electron transfer and hole trap, reducing the recombination rate and lowering the overall photocatalytic activity by 51%. In particular, 0.1 g of PBNO-0.2-F showed continuous catalytic activity, even when the photocatalytic reaction proceeded for 180 min. Therefore, this study demonstrates that the Fe-doped aurivillius-phase PBFNO photocatalyst is very promising for the dye manufacturing industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Photo(electro)catalysts for Energy and Environmental Applications)

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13 pages, 3640 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Synthesis of Rape Pollen-Fe₂O₃ Biohybrid Catalyst and Its Application on Photocatalytic Degradation and Antibacterial Properties

by Jialin Gu, Yanping Ma, Xinshang Li, Shuwen Li, Siyi Chen, Yuxuan Cao, Yifan Lu, Rui Zhang, Wenquan Zhou, He Wang and Jiangang Jiang

Catalysts 2023, 13(2), 358; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13020358 - 06 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1428

Abstract

The efficient biohybrid photocatalysts were prepared with different weight ratios of Fe₂O₃ and treated rape pollen (TRP). The synthesized samples were characterized by different analytical techniques. The results showed that carbonized rape pollen had a three-dimensional skeleton and granular Fe₂O₃ uniformly covered the surface of TRP. The Fe₂O₃/TRP samples were used for degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) and Escherichia Coli (E. coli) disinfection in water under visible light. The degradation of MB and inactivation of E. coli was achieved to 93.7% in 300 min and 99.14% in 100 min, respectively. We also explored the mechanism during the reaction process, where reactive oxygen species (ROS) including hydroxyl radicals and superoxide radicals play a major role throughout the reaction process. This work provides new ideas for the preparation of high-performance photocatalysts by combining semiconductors with earth-abundant biomaterials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Photo(electro)catalysts for Energy and Environmental Applications)

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17 pages, 7298 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Core/Shell Nitrogen-Doped TiO₂@SiO₂ Nano-Catalyst as an Additive in Photocatalytic Paint for Gaseous Acetaldehyde Decomposition

by Suwapee Samangsri, Thanita Areerob and Siriluk Chiarakorn

Catalysts 2023, 13(2), 351; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13020351 - 04 Feb 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1471

Abstract

A nitrogen-doped TiO₂@SiO₂ core/shell nano-photocatalyst (N-TiO₂@SiO₂) was used as an additive in photocatalytic paint and applied for the photocatalytic degradation of gaseous acetaldehyde under light-emitting diode (LED) visible light irradiation. N-TiO₂ was synthesised via the solvothermal method and then encapsulated by SiO₂ via the sol-gel method. The incorporation of the N atom into the TiO₂ structure was observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The N-TiO₂@SiO₂ core/shell structure was determined by TEM images. The photodegradation of gaseous acetaldehyde using the prepared N-TiO₂@SiO₂ photocatalytic paint was examined in a closed chamber under LED light irradiation. The photodegradation of acetaldehyde by N-TiO₂@SiO₂ photocatalytic paint (31%) was significantly higher than that of TiO₂ paint (5%) and N-TiO₂ paint (20%) within 16 h. The chemical resistance and adhesion ability of N-TiO₂@SiO₂ photocatalytic paint were investigated following Thai Industrial Standards (TIS) no. 2321 and standard test methods for rating adhesion by tape test (ASTM D 3359-22). The N-TiO₂@SiO₂ paint showed good acid and alkali resistance, as well as high adhesion ability comparable with commercial paint (without a photocatalyst). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Photo(electro)catalysts for Energy and Environmental Applications)

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15 pages, 5778 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficient Bias-Free Degradation of Sulfamethazine by TiO₂ Nanoneedle Arrays Photoanode and Co₃O₄ Photocathode System under LED-Light Irradiation

by Zhongzheng Hu, Ruiheng Liang, Xiangru Song, Huizhong Wu, Jiangli Sun, Jingyang Liu, Minghua Zhou and Omotayo A. Arotiba

Catalysts 2023, 13(2), 327; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13020327 - 01 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1359

Abstract

Solving high electrical-energy input for pollutants degradation is one of the core requirements for the practical application of photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) technology. Herein, we developed a self-driven dual-photoelectrode PEC system (TiO₂ NNs-Co₃O₄) composed of a TiO₂ nanoneedle arrays (TiO₂ NNs) photoanode and Co₃O₄ photocathode for the first time. Under light-emitting-diode (LED) illumination, the bias-free TiO₂ NNs-Co₃O₄ PEC system exhibited excellent PEC performance, with an internal bias as high as 0.19 V, achieving near complete degradation (99.62%) of sulfamethazine (SMT) with a pseudo-first-order rate constant of 0.042 min⁻¹. The influences of solution pH, typical inorganic anions, natural organic matter, and initial SMT concentration on the PEC performance were investigated. Moreover, the main reactive oxygen species (h⁺, ^•OH, ^•O₂⁻) in the dual-photoelectrode PEC system for SMT decomposition were elaborated. The practical application feasibility for efficient water purification of this unbiased PEC system was evaluated. It was proved that the TiO₂ NNs photoanode provided a negative bias while the Co₃O₄ photocathode provided a positive bias for the photoanode, which made this system operate without external bias. This work elucidated the cooperative mechanism of photoelectrodes, providing guidance to develop a sustainable, efficient, and energy-saving PEC system for wastewater treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Photo(electro)catalysts for Energy and Environmental Applications)

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14 pages, 11228 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Composition and Morphology Modulation of Bimetallic Nitride Nanostructures on Nickel Foams for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysis

by Xiaokang Wan, Xianyun Wang, Dashun Lu, Yunbo Xu, Gezhong Liu, Yanming Fu, Taotao Shui, Haitao Wang and Zude Cheng

Catalysts 2023, 13(2), 230; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13020230 - 19 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1287

Abstract

Metal-nitrides-based electrocatalysts for efficient oxygen-evolution have been extensively studied as one of the most promising candidates to fulfil the demand for future energy-conversion and storage. Herein, a series of Ni_xCo_1−xO- and Ni_xCo_1−xN-based nanostructures on nickel foams were reported to show excellent activities for oxygen-evolution reaction. The catalysts were prepared and modulated rationally via a facile-hydrothermal method, followed by high-temperature calcination under air or nitrogen atmosphere. The optimal bimetallic-nitride catalyst Ni_0.3Co_0.7N shows a small overpotential of 268 mV at 20 mA cm⁻², and a Tafel slope of 66 mV dec⁻¹ with good stability. The enhanced OER-performance is ascribed to the synergetic effect of the unique morphology and the intrinsic catalytic property of the nanostructure after nitridation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Photo(electro)catalysts for Energy and Environmental Applications)

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13 pages, 2175 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis of Mn-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles and Their Application in the Transesterification of Castor Oil

by Afifa Zahid, Zahid Mukhtar, Muhammad Azam Qamar, Sammia Shahid, Syed Kashif Ali, Mohammad Shariq, Hussain J. Alathlawi, Mohd Abul Hasan, Mohd Shakir Khan, Saiful Islam, Bhagyashree R. Patil, Mohammed Saleh Al Ansari, Zahid Nawaz and Mudassar Sher

Catalysts 2023, 13(1), 105; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13010105 - 03 Jan 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2487

Abstract

Alarming environmental changes and the threat of natural fuel resource extinction are concerning issues in human development. This has increased scientists’ efforts to phase out traditional energy resources and move on to environmentally friendly biofuels. In this study, non-edible castor oil was transesterified with methanol using a manganese-doped zinc oxide (Mn-doped ZnO) nanocatalyst. A heterogeneous nanocatalyst was prepared by means of the the sonochemical method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize these nanocatalysts. The transesterification reaction was studied under different temperature conditions, different ratios of methyl alcohol to castor oil, and different amounts of the catalyst to identify optimum conditions in which the maximum yield of biodiesel was produced. The maximum biodiesel yield (90.3%) was observed at 55 °C with an oil-to-methanol ratio of 1:12, and with 1.2 g of nanocatalyst. The first-order kinetic model was found to be the most suitable. Several thermodynamic parameters were also determined, such as activation energy, enthalpy, and entropy. We found that this transesterification was an endergonic and entropy-driven reaction. The results showed that the Mn-doped ZnO nanocatalyst could be a suitable catalyst for the heterogeneous catalytic transesterification process, which is essential for biodiesel production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Photo(electro)catalysts for Energy and Environmental Applications)

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12 pages, 7008 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Heterojunction Design between WSe₂ Nanosheets and TiO₂ for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

by Xu Guo, Xing Liu, Jing Shan, Guangtao Zhao and Shengzhong (Frank) Liu

Catalysts 2022, 12(12), 1668; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal12121668 - 19 Dec 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2104

Abstract

Design and fabrication of efficient and stable photocatalysts are critically required for practical applications of solar water splitting. Herein, a series of WSe₂/TiO₂ nanocomposites were constructed through a facile mechanical grinding method, and all of the nanocomposites exhibited boosted photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. It was discovered that the enhanced photocatalytic performance was attributed to the efficient electron transfer from TiO₂ to WSe₂ and the abundant active sites provided by WSe₂ nanosheets. Moreover, the intimate heterojunction between WSe₂ nanosheets and TiO₂ favors the interfacial charge separation. As a result, a highest hydrogen evolution rate of 2.28 mmol/g·h, 114 times higher than pristine TiO₂, was obtained when the weight ratio of WSe₂/(WSe₂ + TiO₂) was adjusted to be 20%. The designed WSe₂/TiO₂ heterojunctions can be regarded as a promising photocatalysts for high-throughput hydrogen production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Photo(electro)catalysts for Energy and Environmental Applications)

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11 pages, 3761 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cobalt-Doped Iron Phosphate Crystal on Stainless Steel Mesh for Corrosion-Resistant Oxygen Evolution Catalyst

by Jaun An, Hyebin Choi, Keunyoung Lee and Ki-Young Kwon

Catalysts 2022, 12(12), 1521; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal12121521 - 25 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1366

Abstract

We report an oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst prepared by the incorporation of cobalt-doped iron phosphate on stainless steel mesh (SSM) through a one-step hydrothermal method. Compared to the catalytic property of bare SSM, our OER catalyst (0.84-CoFePi) showed a 42% improvement in current density at the potential of 1.9 V vs. RHE, and the onset potential was decreased by 26.5 mV. Furthermore, the loss in current density of bulk electrolysis after 12 h in 1 M KOH (pH 14) solution and 0.0441 wt% H₂SO₄ (pH ≈ 3) containing 0.1 M NaCl solution was negligible (3.1% and 3.2%, respectively). Moreover, our cobalt-doped iron phosphate on SSM exhibits the dramatic improvement in corrosion resistance to a basic, mild acidic solution and chloride ions compared to bare SSM. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Photo(electro)catalysts for Energy and Environmental Applications)

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14 pages, 22450 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cerium-Doped CoMn₂O₄ Spinels as Highly Efficient Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for ORR/OER Reactions

by Xiao Chen, Fengshuang Han, Xi Chen, Chenxi Zhang and Wangyan Gou

Catalysts 2022, 12(10), 1122; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal12101122 - 27 Sep 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2350

Abstract

Low-cost and highly efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen reactions are highly important for oxygen-related energy storage/conversion devices (e.g., solar fuels, fuel cells, and rechargeable metal-air batteries). In this work, a range of compositionally-tuned cerium-doped CoMn₂O₄ (Ce-CMO-X) spinels were prepared via oxidizing precipitation and subsequent crystallization method and evaluated as electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The Ce modification into the CMO spinels lead to the changes of surface electronic structure. And Ce-CMO-X catalysts display better electrochemical performance than that of pristine CMO spinel. Among them, Ce-CMO-18% shows the best activity. The Ce-CMO-18% processes a higher ratio of Co³⁺/Co²⁺, Mn⁴⁺/Mn³⁺, which is beneficial to ORR performance, while the higher content of oxygen vacancies in Ce-CMO-18% make for better OER performance. Thus, the Ce-doped CMO spinels are potential candidates as bifunctional electrocatalysts for both ORR and OER in alkaline environments. Then, the hybrid Ce-CMO-18%/MWCNTs catalyst was also synthesized, which shows further enhanced ORR and OER activities. It displays an ORR onset potential of 0.93 V and potential of 0.84 V at density of 3 mA cm⁻² (at 1600 rpm), which is comparable to commercial Pt/C. The OER onset potential and potential at a current density 10 mA cm^-2 are 183 mV and 341 mV. The superior electrical conductivity and oxygen functional groups at the surface of MWCNTs can facilitate the interaction between metal oxides and carbon, which promoted the OER and ORR performances significantly. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Photo(electro)catalysts for Energy and Environmental Applications)

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Review

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19 pages, 4665 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Cocatalysts for Photocatalytic Overall Water Splitting: A Mini Review

by Li Tian, Xiangjiu Guan, Shichao Zong, Anna Dai and Jingkuo Qu

Catalysts 2023, 13(2), 355; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13020355 - 05 Feb 2023

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4768

Abstract

Photocatalyst overall water splitting is usually restricted by low carrier separation efficiency and a slow surface reaction rate. Cocatalysts provide a satisfactory solution to significantly improve photocatalytic performance. In this review, some recent advances in cocatalysts for photocatalytic overall water splitting are gathered and divided into groups. Firstly, the loading method of the cocatalyst is introduced. Then, the role of the cocatalyst applied for the photocatalytic overall water splitting process is further discussed. Finally, the key challenges and possible research directions of photocatalytic overall water splitting are proposed. This review is expected to promote research on the design of efficient cocatalysts in photocatalytic systems for overall water splitting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Photo(electro)catalysts for Energy and Environmental Applications)

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