High-Performance Photocatalytic H Production Using a Binary Cu/TiO/SrTiO Heterojunction.

Cu/TiO/SrTiO hybrid structures have been synthesized by the simple impregnation method from Cu/TiO and SrTiO systems. The structural and surface characterization stated that Cu/TiO/SrTiO composites form an effective covering of SrTiO by Cu/TiO. The heterostructured catalysts lead to an outstanding improved photoactivity for hydrogen production from methanol photoreforming that would be related with the efficient separation of charge pairs favored by the Cu/TiO/SrTiO heterojunction.

NaY(MoO)-based nanoparticles: synthesis, luminescence and photocatalytic properties.

We report on a novel synthesis method, which produces NaY(MoO) nanoparticles having an almost spherical shape and hydrophilic character. The procedure is also suitable for the preparation of NaY(MoO)-based nanophosphors by doping this host with lanthanide cations (Eu, Tb and Dy), which, under UV illumination, exhibit intense luminescence whose color is determined by the selected doping cation (red for Eu, green for Tb and yellow for Dy). The effects of the cations doping level on the luminescent properties are analyzed in terms of emission intensities and luminescent lifetime, to find the optimum phosphors.

Phase-Contact Engineering in Mono- and Bimetallic Cu-Ni Co-catalysts for Hydrogen Photocatalytic Materials.

Understanding how a photocatalyst modulates its oxidation state, size, and structure during a photocatalytic reaction under operando conditions is strongly limited by the mismatch between (catalyst) volume sampled by light and, to date, the physicochemical techniques and probes employed to study them. A synchrotron micro-beam X-ray absorption spectroscopy study together with the computational simulation and analysis (at the X-ray cell) of the light-matter interaction occurring in powdered TiO -based monometallic Cu, Ni and bimetallic CuNi catalysts for hydrogen production from renewables was carried out. The combined information unveils an unexpected key catalytic role involving the phase contact between the reduced and oxidized non-noble metal phases in all catalysts and, additionally, reveals the source of the synergistic Cu-Ni interaction in the bimetallic material.

Exalted photocatalytic activity of tetragonal BiVO4 by Er3+ doping through a luminescence cooperative mechanism.

Er-doped BiVO4 are synthesized by means of a surfactant free microwave assisted hydrothermal method having good photoactivities under sun-like excitation for the degradation of methylene blue. From the structural and morphological characterization, it has been stated that the presence of Er(3+) induces a slight stabilization of the tetragonal phase, probably due to its incorporation in the BiVO4 lattice. The best photocatalytic performances were attained for the samples with Er(3+) content higher than 3 at%.

Synthesis, characterization, and photodegradation behavior of single-phase anatase TiO2 materials synthesized from Ti-oxychloride precursors.

Single-phase anatase-TiO2 nanomaterials with a size of ca. 10 nm and variable quantities of anion impurities were prepared using a novel pathway based on the use of amorphous ammonium Ti-oxychloride precursors synthesized using Ti/Cl initial ratios between 1 and 6. The precursor nature and evolution under thermal treatment were studied using chemical analysis, XRD, XPS, DRIFTS, and mass spectrometry.