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Nanotechnology in Photo-Triggered Processes
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Nanotechnology in Photo-Triggered Processes

A special issue of Solar (ISSN 2673-9941).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 December 2023) | Viewed by 8553

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Konstantinos Christoforidis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, 67100 Xanthi, Greece
Interests: development of advanced single- and multi-face materials based on metal oxides, organic nanostructures, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), composites and heterojunctions for environmental- and energy-related applications; inorganic/organic pollutants adsorption; advanced oxidation processes (AOPs); carbon capture; storage and utilization technologies (CCUS); photocatalysis; hydrogen production; CO2 conversion
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to announce the launch of a new Special Issue focusing on the development of novel photoactive nanomaterials.

Photo-triggered reactions have been established as a very promising approach to address many critical issues including environmental and human health protection, clean energy production, and the production of high-added-value chemicals and sensors. Photocatalysis operates under ambient conditions and makes use of solar energy, which is a clean and undepletable energy. Due to these factors, many efforts have been devoted to the fabrication of efficient photocatalysts and the understanding of the fundamentals controlling their activity.

The objective of the current Special Issue is to present the current research development in the area of photoactive nanomaterials including novel single-phase and multi-phase nanomaterials (nanocomposites and heterojunctions). Applications include photocatalytic and photo(electro)catalytic reactions in environmental pollutants deactivation, sustainable clean energy production, CO2 conversion, N2 activation, and the production of fine chemicals. The development of sensors through the fabrication of photosensitive nanomaterials is also covered. Contributions focusing on the fundamental understanding of reaction mechanisms, including computational studies, are also welcome. The development of efficient novel photoactive nanomaterials through precise engineering which are able to utilize solar light, as well as aspects related to process engineering are considered crucial in order to meet the needs for large-scale applications.

The current Special Issue is focused on the development of novel photoactive nanomaterials and on studies elucidating fundamental mechanistic aspects. Contributions of original research articles both in fundamental and applied sciences as well as reviews, mini-reviews, and perspectives are welcome. Some suggested topics are given below.

  • New photoactive materials;
  • Photocatalysis;
  • Photoelectrocatalysis;
  • Sensors;
  • Hydrogen production;
  • CO2 reduction;
  • N2 activation;
  • Environmental pollution;
  • H2O2 production;
  • Water and air contamination;
  • Antimicrobial activity;
  • Organic chemical synthesis;
  • Reactors design/fabrication;
  • New testing methods;
  • Reaction mechanism;
  • Computational studies.

Dr. Konstantinos Christoforidis
Guest Editor

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. Solar is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1000 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

  • nanomaterials
  • photocatalysis
  • photoelectrocatalysis
  • sensors
  • clean energy
  • environmental depollution
  • CO2 conversion
  • fine chemical production
  • N2 activation
  • H2O2 production

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 2182 KiB  
Article
Strain Engineering of ZrO2@TiO2 Core@shell Nanoparticle Photocatalysts
by John G. Swadener
Solar 2023, 3(1), 15-24; https://doi.org/10.3390/solar3010002 - 04 Jan 2023
Viewed by 1678
Abstract
TiO2 photocatalysts can provide carbon-capture utilization and storage by converting atmospheric CO2 to green hydrogen, but the efficiency of the current photocatalysts is still too low for economical usage. Anatase TiO2 is effective in transferring the electrons and holes produced [...] Read more.
TiO2 photocatalysts can provide carbon-capture utilization and storage by converting atmospheric CO2 to green hydrogen, but the efficiency of the current photocatalysts is still too low for economical usage. Anatase TiO2 is effective in transferring the electrons and holes produced by the photoelectric effect to reactants because of its oxygen-terminated surfaces. However, the anatase TiO2 bandgap is 3.2 eV, which requires photons with wavelengths of 375 nm or less to produce electron–hole pairs. Therefore, TiO2 is limited to using a small part of the solar spectrum. Strain engineering has been used to design ZrO2@TiO2 core@shell structures with large strains in the TiO2 shell, which reduces its bandgap but maintains octahedral facets for charge separation and oxygen-terminated surfaces for the catalysis of reactants. Finite element analysis shows that shell thicknesses of 4–12 nm are effective at obtaining large strains in a large portion of the shell, with the largest strains occurring next to the ZrO2 surface. The c-axis strains for 4–12 nm shells are up to 7%. The strains reduce the bandgap in anatase TiO2 up to 0.35 eV, which allows for the use of sunlight with wavelengths up to 421 nm. For the AM 1.5 standard spectrum, electron–hole pair creation in 4 nm thick and 10 nm thick TiO2 shells can be increased by a predicted 25% and 23%, respectively. The 10 nm thick shells provide a much larger volume of TiO2 and use proportionally less ZrO2. In addition, surface-plasmon resonators could be added to further extend the usable spectrum and increase the production of electron–hole pairs many-fold. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology in Photo-Triggered Processes)
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11 pages, 3970 KiB  
Article
Photoluminescence Imaging for the In-Line Quality Control of Thin-Film Solar Cells
by Johanna Zikulnig, Wolfgang Mühleisen, Pieter Jan Bolt, Marcel Simor and Martin De Biasio
Solar 2022, 2(1), 1-11; https://doi.org/10.3390/solar2010001 - 14 Jan 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3859
Abstract
Renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic (PV) technologies are considered to be key drivers towards climate neutrality. Thin-film PVs, and particularly copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) technologies, will play a crucial role in the turnaround in energy policy due to their high efficiencies, [...] Read more.
Renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic (PV) technologies are considered to be key drivers towards climate neutrality. Thin-film PVs, and particularly copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) technologies, will play a crucial role in the turnaround in energy policy due to their high efficiencies, high product flexibility, light weight, easy installation, lower labour-intensiveness, and lower carbon footprint when compared to silicon solar cells. Nonetheless, challenges regarding the CIGS fabrication process such as moderate reproducibility and process tolerance are still hindering a broad market penetration. Therefore, cost-efficient and easily implementable in-line process control methods are demanded that allow for identification and elimination of non-conformal cells at an early production step. As part of this work, a practical approach towards industrial in-line photoluminescence (PL) imaging as a contact-free quality inspection tool is presented. Performance parameters of 10 CIGS samples with 32 individually contacted cells each were correlated with results from PL imaging using green and red excitation light sources. The data analysis was fully automated using Python-based image processing, object detection, and non-linear regression modelling. Using the red excitation light source, the presented PL imaging and data processing approach allows for a quantitative assessment of the cell performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology in Photo-Triggered Processes)
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Review

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26 pages, 5597 KiB  
Review
Cu-Based Materials as Photocatalysts for Solar Light Artificial Photosynthesis: Aspects of Engineering Performance, Stability, Selectivity
by Areti Zindrou, Loukas Belles and Yiannis Deligiannakis
Solar 2023, 3(1), 87-112; https://doi.org/10.3390/solar3010008 - 02 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1988
Abstract
Cu-oxide nanophases (CuO, Cu2O, Cu0) constitute highly potent nanoplatforms for the development of efficient Artificial Photosynthesis catalysts. The highly reducing conduction band edge of the d-electrons in Cu2O dictates its efficiency towards CO2 reduction under [...] Read more.
Cu-oxide nanophases (CuO, Cu2O, Cu0) constitute highly potent nanoplatforms for the development of efficient Artificial Photosynthesis catalysts. The highly reducing conduction band edge of the d-electrons in Cu2O dictates its efficiency towards CO2 reduction under sunlight excitation. In the present review, we discuss aspects interlinking the stability under photocorrosion of the (CuO/Cu2O/Cu0) nanophase equilibria, and performance in H2-production/CO2-reduction. Converging literature evidence shows that, because of photocorrosion, single-phase Cu-oxides would not be favorable to be used as a standalone cathodic catalyst/electrode; however, their heterojunctions and the coupling with proper partner materials is an encouraging approach. Distinction between the role of various factors is required to protect the material from photocorrosion, e.g., use of hole scavengers/electron acceptors, band-gap engineering, nano-facet engineering, and selectivity of CO2-reduction pathways, to name a few possible solutions. In this context, herein we discuss examples and synthesis efforts that aim to clarify the role of interfaces, faces, and phase stability under photocatalytic conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanotechnology in Photo-Triggered Processes)
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