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Nanomaterials
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Photocatalytic Ability of Composite Nanomaterials
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Photocatalytic Ability of Composite Nanomaterials

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy and Catalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2024) | Viewed by 2275

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jovan M. Nedeljković

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences - National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: energy and environmental applications; antimicrobial properties of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles; photocatalysis; interfacial charge transfer complexes; sensors; green chemistry; inorganic-organic hybrids
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Vesna Lazić

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences - National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: antimicrobial properties and toxicity of nanoparticles; green synthesis of metal nanoparticles; nanocomposites; nanoparticles as a chemical sensor; enzyme immobilization using nanoparticles
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

There is an urgent need to develop novel photocatalytic composite materials due to the proliferation of pollution and the detrimental impact of fossil fuels on the environment. The focus of this Special Issue is on composite materials that provide the best performance regarding the remediation of air and wastewater, as well as hydrogen production in water-splitting reactions. It is well known that the primary impediments to achieving efficient photo-driven reactions are the recombination of charge carriers and the low overlap of the photocatalyst's absorption with the solar spectrum typical for wide-bandgap metal oxides, such as titanium dioxide. Therefore, various types of composites based on the semiconductor–semiconductor heterojunction and metallic co-catalysts, including plasmonic particles, dye-sensitized inorganic materials, and inorganic–organic hybrids displaying a charge transfer complex formation, are recognized as potential approaches by which to enhance photocatalytic performance and overcome the above-mentioned shortages; this can be achieved by enhancing the charge separation and/or conveying the optical absorption in a more practical visible spectral range.

Thus, this Special Issue focuses on the latest synthetic procedures employed in the development of nanocomposite materials, their characterization supported by theoretical developments, and their practical application, such as in the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants, the removal of heavy-metal ions, and hydrogen production. It invites researchers to present novel valuable results regarding the enhanced photocatalytic ability of composite nanomaterials.

Dr. Jovan M. Nedeljković
Dr. Vesna Lazić
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • composite nanomaterials
  • photocatalysis
  • hydrogen production
  • wastewater remediation
  • air purification
  • bandgap engineering

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1843 KiB  
Article
Geometrical Stabilities and Electronic Structures of Ru3 Clusters on Rutile TiO2 for Green Hydrogen Production
by Moteb Alotaibi
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(5), 396; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14050396 - 21 Feb 2024
Viewed by 720
Abstract
In response to the vital requirement for renewable energy alternatives, this research delves into the complex interactions between ruthenium (Ru3) clusters and rutile titanium dioxide (TiO2) (110) interfaces, with the aim of enhancing photocatalytic water splitting processes to produce [...] Read more.
In response to the vital requirement for renewable energy alternatives, this research delves into the complex interactions between ruthenium (Ru3) clusters and rutile titanium dioxide (TiO2) (110) interfaces, with the aim of enhancing photocatalytic water splitting processes to produce environmentally friendly hydrogen. As the world shifts away from traditional fossil fuels, this study utilizes the density functional theory (DFT) and the HSE06 hybrid functional to thoroughly assess the geometric and electronic properties of Ru3 clusters on rutile TiO2 (110) surfaces. Given TiO2’s renown role as a photocatalyst and its limitations in visible light absorption, this research investigates the potential of metals like Ru to serve as additional catalysts. The results indicate that the triangular Ru3 cluster exhibits exceptional stability and charge transfer effectiveness when loaded on rutile TiO2 (110). Under ideal adsorption scenarios, the cluster undergoes oxidation, leading to subsequent changes in the electronic configuration of TiO2. Further exploration into TiO2 surfaces with defects shows that Ru3 clusters influence the creation of oxygen vacancies, resulting in a greater stabilization of TiO2 and an increase in the energy required for creating oxygen vacancies. Moreover, the attachment of the Ru3 cluster and the creation of oxygen vacancies lead to the emergence of polaronic and hybrid states centered on specific titanium atoms. These states are vital for enhancing the photocatalytic performance of the material within the visible light spectrum. This DFT study provides essential insights into the role of Ru3 clusters as potential supplementary catalysts in TiO2-based photocatalytic systems, setting the stage for practical experiments and the development of highly efficient photocatalysts for sustainable hydrogen generation. The observed effects on electronic structures and oxygen vacancy generation underscore the intricate relationship between Ru3 clusters and TiO2 interfaces, offering a valuable direction for future research in the pursuit of clean and sustainable energy solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalytic Ability of Composite Nanomaterials)
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13 pages, 4384 KiB  
Article
Fabrication and Characterization of Tantalum–Iron Composites for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
by Xiuru Yang, Anurag Roy, Mansour Alhabradi, Manal Alruwaili, Hong Chang and Asif Ali Tahir
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(17), 2464; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13172464 - 31 Aug 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1288
Abstract
Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution represents a transformative avenue in addressing the challenges of fossil fuels, heralding a renewable and pristine alternative to conventional fossil fuel-driven energy paradigms. Yet, a formidable challenge is crafting a high-efficacy, stable photocatalyst that optimizes solar energy transduction and charge [...] Read more.
Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution represents a transformative avenue in addressing the challenges of fossil fuels, heralding a renewable and pristine alternative to conventional fossil fuel-driven energy paradigms. Yet, a formidable challenge is crafting a high-efficacy, stable photocatalyst that optimizes solar energy transduction and charge partitioning even under adversarial conditions. Within the scope of this investigation, tantalum–iron heterojunction composites characterized by intricate, discoidal nanostructured materials were meticulously synthesized using a solvothermal-augmented calcination protocol. The X-ray diffraction, coupled with Rietveld refinements delineated the nuanced alterations in phase constitution and structural intricacies engendered by disparate calcination thermal regimes. An exhaustive study encompassing nano-morphology, electronic band attributes, bandgap dynamics, and a rigorous appraisal of their photocatalytic prowess has been executed for the composite array. Intriguingly, the specimen denoted as 1000-1, a heterojunction composite of TaO2/Ta2O5/FeTaO4, manifested an exemplary photocatalytic hydrogen evolution capacity, registering at 51.24 µmol/g, which eclipses its counterpart, 1100-1 (Ta2O5/FeTaO4), by an impressive margin. Such revelations amplify the prospective utility of these tantalum iron matrices, endorsing their candidacy as potent agents for sustainable hydrogen production via photocatalysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalytic Ability of Composite Nanomaterials)
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