Piezoelectric Activation of Peroxymonosulfate by CoMnO for Highly Efficient Tetracycline Degradation.

Advanced oxidation processes employing peroxymonosulfate (PMS) show significant promise for wastewater treatment. However, PMS activation typically relies on energy- and chemically intensive techniques due to its relatively low reactivity. Hence, the exploration of novel and energy-efficient approaches, such as the piezoelectric effect, for PMS activation is of paramount importance.

Preparation of Novel Layered High Entropy Bismuth-Based Materials and their Photocatalytic Degradation Mechanism.

We prepared BiOCl, BiO(ClBr), BiO(ClBrI), and BiO[ClBrI(CO)] materials using a simple coprecipitation method. It was found that adjusting the number of anions in the anion layer was conducive to adjusting the band structure of BiOX and could effectively promote the migration and separation of photogenerated carriers, thus improving the photocatalytic activity. We first selected methyl orange (MO) as the study pollutant and compared it with BiOCl, BiO(ClBr), and BiO(ClBrI).

Product Peroxidation Inhibition in Methane Photooxidation into Methanol.

Methane photooxidation into methanol offers a practical approach for the generation of high-value chemicals and the efficient storage of solar energy. However, the propensity for C─H bonds in the desired products to cleave more easily than those in methane molecules results in a continuous dehydrogenation process, inevitably leading to methanol peroxidation. Consequently, inhibiting methanol peroxidation is perceived as one of the most formidable challenges in the field of direct conversion of methane to methanol.

Selective Cleavage of Chemical Bonds in Targeted Intermediates for Highly Selective Photooxidation of Methane to Methanol.

Restrained by the uncontrollable cleavage process of chemical bonds in methane molecules and corresponding formed intermediates, the target product in the reaction of methane selective oxidation to methanol would suffer from an inevitable overoxidation process, which is considered to be one of the most challenging issues in the field of catalysis. Herein, we report a conceptually different method for modulating the conversion pathway of methane through the selective cleavage of chemical bonds in the key intermediates to suppress the generation of peroxidation products. Taking metal oxides, typical semiconductors in the field of methane oxidation as model catalysts, we confirm that the cleavage of different chemical bonds in CHO* intermediates could greatly affect the conversion pathway of methane, which has a vital role in product selectivity.

Methane Photooxidation with Nearly 100 % Selectivity Towards Oxygenates: Proton Rebound Ensures the Regeneration of Methanol.

Restrained by uncontrollable dehydrogenation process, the target products of methane direct conversion would suffer from an inevitable overoxidation, which is deemed as one of the most challenging issues in catalysis. Herein, based on the concept of a hydrogen bonding trap, we proposed a novel concept to modulate the methane conversion pathway to hinder the overoxidation of target products. Taking boron nitride as a proof-of-concept model, for the first time it is found that the designed N-H bonds can work as a hydrogen bonding trap to attract electrons.

Dual-Function Reaction Center for Simultaneous Activation of CH and O via Oxygen Vacancies during Direct Selective Oxidation of CH into CHOH.

The direct oxidation of methane (CH) to methanol (CHOH) has been a focus of global concern and is quite challenging due to the thermodynamically stable CH and uncontrolled overoxidation of the products. Here, we provided a new viewpoint on the role of oxygen vacancies that induce a dual-function center in enhancing the adsorption and activation of both CH and O reactants for the subsequent selective formation of a CHOH liquid fuel on two-dimensional BiOCl photocatalysts at atmospheric pressure. The key for the favorable activity lies in the simultaneous ability of the electron-trapped Bi atom in activating CH and the formation of O radicals due to the activation of O at the adjacent oxygen vacancy site, which immediately attack the activated CH to directly produce CHOH, in initiating the oxidation reaction.

Modulating electron density of vacancy site by single Au atom for effective CO photoreduction.

The surface electron density significantly affects the photocatalytic efficiency, especially the photocatalytic CO reduction reaction, which involves multi-electron participation in the conversion process. Herein, we propose a conceptually different mechanism for surface electron density modulation based on the model of Au anchored CdS. We firstly manipulate the direction of electron transfer by regulating the vacancy types of CdS.

Visible-Light-Driven Selective Oxidative Coupling of Amines to Imines by Bismuth-Rich Bismuth Oxybromide in Water.

Photocatalytic selective oxidative coupling of amines is a promising method for imine synthesis. Bismuth-rich bismuth oxybromide photocatalysts have been found to exhibit improved conversion and selectivity for the visible-light-driven selective oxidative coupling of amines to imines in water. Benzylamines with either electron-withdrawing or electron-donating groups undergo good conversion (94-99 %) and excellent selectivity (93-98 %) to the corresponding imines.